By Andrew Warshaw in Vienna
March 24 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s eagerly awaited appearance at the UEFA Congress today was greeted with polite but hardly prolonged applause by the one confederation that opposes his re-election in May.
Blatter, who traditionally addresses every confederation congress and receives emphatic ovations, gave a far more low-key speech than usual and steered clear of mentioning the FIFA presidential election in May, mindful of the sensitivity involved and the fact that this was very much UEFA’s party.
Most European delegates, including president Michel Platini, are strongly against Blatter standing for a fifth term and are backing the three men campaigning to oust him though not openly.
Blatter had declined an invitation from UEFA to address delegates as a candidate along with his challengers, Jordan’s outgoing FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Dutch FA chief Michael van Praag and Luis Figo of Portugal who were all present in the auditorium.
Instead he chose the normal route to speak as FIFA president, calling on delegates to show unity and solidarity.
He also repeated his stance that boycotting the World Cup in Russia because of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine would serve no purpose.
“The autonomy of sports must be guaranteed,” said Blatter. “Maybe we cannot change the world but at least we can help change the world and help in certain conflict situations.
“I appeal to UEFA, but not only to UEFA but all the confederations, to help bring this unity and solidarity together to help build our respective organisations. Speaking of Russia, football has to stay united. In the past boycotts have never brought any results.”
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