By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
January 12 – Sepp Blatter today received backing for his campaign to continue as President of FIFA from an unexpected quarter – Reynald Temarii, one of the two FIFA Executive Committee members banned after they were linked to corruption allegations in the build-up to last month’s World Cup vote.
There is increasing speculation that Blatter, who has held the position for 13 years, may be challenged by Qatar’s Mohammed Bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
But Temarii, who was forced to step down as President of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) following the allegations published in Britain’s Sunday Times that he had asked for cash to help build a development centre in return for this World Cup vote, claimed that Blatter represented the best hope for the development of football in the Pacific.
“Based on his legacy to the Pacific, the 11 OFC member associations will have to vote for Sepp Blatter again in June to lead FIFA for the next four years, without any hesitation,” said Temarii in an interview with Fairfax Media.
“In 1998, when Blatter stood for the first time as a FIFA Presidential candidate, I supported him, with Dr Sahu Khan from Fiji, while the other OFC member associations voted for [then UEFA President] Lennart Johansson.
“I did so because of Blatter’s vision and his programme to promote and develop the game around the world.
“From 1998 until 2010, Blatter has done what he said, and for the Pacific, even more than we could have expected from FIFA in many areas.
“Without his strong support, the OFC would have never achieved what we have in the Pacific.
“The appointment of Jerome Valcke as Fifa secretary general has also improved the relationship between FIFA and the OFC.”
But Temarii was critical of Blatter about last month’s World Cup vote which saw the 2018 tournament awarded to Russia and 2022 to Qatar.
“However, it is important that the voting process selecting World Cup host nations is reviewed,” he said.
“A rating system might provide more transparency and objectivity.”
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