By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
March 20 – A defiant Sepp Blatter laid down the gauntlet to his critics today by insisting his record at the head of FIFA spoke for itself and refusing to say whether or not he will issue a manifesto ahead of the presidential election in May.
In a press conference closing two days of FIFA executive committee meetings FIFA also announced it will be paying $209 million to clubs in compensation for releasing players to take part in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, three times more than for Brazil in 2014 and five times more than in South Africa in 2010.
The European Clubs’ Association – which had been demanding a larger financial sweetener as a result of the disruption that will be caused by moving the 2022 Qatar World Cup to the winter – immediately welcomed the new collaboration. “The clubs are the lifeblood of football and now their fundamental importance to the global game is being recognised,” an ECA statement said.
On the issue of presidency Blatter swept aside questions about his ability to do the job for another four years by stressing what he had achieved in the past 17 despite a spate of corruption cases that have undermined FIFA’s credibility.
In his most forthright public comments so far on an election that is rapidly gaining momentum – comments that are bound to infuriate those who oppose him – Blatter, 79, made it clear he was completely confident of victory and would not be pressurised into making decisions just to suit others’ agendas.
With the UEFA Congress taking place next week, there have been strong rumours that Blatter might unveil his manifesto on Monday to counter those already published by the three UEFA-backed contenders.
But pressed on the issue, Blatter responded in forceful tones verging on anger, arguing he didn’t need to copy the actions of his challengers in order to win a fifth term.
Blatter declared: “I am the FIFA president until May 29 and the last item on the FIFA Congress agenda. I have been asked by national associations in all the six confederations to be a candidate. I am not campaigning.”
“My manifesto is the work I have done during the last years in FIFA. I have been 40 years in FIFA and 17 as president. This is my manifesto.”
Questions on the election came right at the end of a press conference which largely centred on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Blatter re-iterated that neither country was in danger of being stripped of host status and again poured scorn on the idea of boycotts, something Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko had called for in response to the occupation by Russian forces in the east of his country.
“The World Cup will take place in Russia in 2018, that’s sure,” said Blatter. “They are working very hard and a boycott of a World Cup or of any sporting event has never brought any solutions to anybody.”
“In Russia, to the contrary, the World Cup will be able to stabilise the situation this region of Europe is suffering now. I am sure football is stronger than any other movement.
“When I look at the geopolitical map today and look at Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, I see that in all these countries where there have been or still are belligerent activities, football is played. For example, Syria’s under-17 team has qualified for Chile in October.
“This shows what football is – football is connecting people and this will be the same at the level of the World Cup.”
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