FA hatches plot to oust FIFA supremo Blatter

By Andrew Warshaw

March 7 – The English Football Association will support any credible rival to FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) when he stands for re-election on June 1.

Insideworldfootball has learned that the FA believe Blatter should not run the game for more than three terms and that it is time for a change at the head of world football.

It is understood that in order to try and unseat Blatter, the FA might even go as far as to encourage Asian football supremo Mohamed Bin Hammam, the only other FIFA official so far to consistently hint he may run, to go ahead and challenge the veteran Swiss.

An FA source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We believe that three terms is long enough as FIFA President, and are considering writing to him [bin Hammam] to offer our support.”

Most FIFA insiders believe bin Hammam, the Asian Football Confederation President, would lose if he decides to run.

Firstly, because he may not even be assured of 100 per cent support from within his own confederation, and secondly because of a lack of a tangible post-election programme.

Back in 1998, the FA voted for Blatter because they thought it might help their ultimately doomed 2006 World Cup bid even though they had appeared to previously pledge allegiance to Lennart Johansson, the UEFA President at the time.

Blatter beat Johansson by 111 votes to 80 amid allegations of backroom deals.

In the next election four years later England voted for Issa Hayatou (pictured) of Cameroon but yet again Blatter triumphed, this time by a landslide.

The deadline for a challenge to a fourth Blatter term is March 31 and FA figures, still seething at England’s treatment during their 2018 World Cup bid defeat when they were knocked out in the first round of bidding with only two votes, believe enough is enough.

Soon after England’s humiliation, the FA’s acting chairman at the time Roger Burden withdrew his candidacy because he “could not trust” FIFA.

Although an American sports journalist has stated his intention to stand, if nominated, as the “people’s candidate”, bin Hammam would be the only serious contender – unless someone else from the FIFA hierarchy suddenly puts his name forward.

English FA officials seem unperturbed about the prospect of backing a loser for the second time but bin Hammam, at 61, is 14 years younger than Blatter, who celebrates his 75th birthday on Thursday (March 10), and the FA is understood to be seeking a complete overhaul to make the organisation more transparent.

“The matter has not been discussed but will be considered by the FA Board when nominations have closed and the FIFA Congress agenda has been published,” a spokesman said today.

Despite the recent World Cup bribery and corruption allegations that rocked FIFA’s credibility, Blatter remains confident he would sweep aside any opponent.

Last weekend, he put on a bullish performance when addressing reporters at the International FA Board meeting at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Blatter said FIFA were doing “a great job” and denounced those who criticised the World Cup going to South Africa last year.

“One year backwards and what has been said about the World Cup in Africa?

“What an error of FIFA to go to Africa, to go to South Africa.

“You are going against the world.

“Even in our Executive Committee people were saying we’re going to lose money.

“Where are we today?

“It is the most splendid World Cup ever made.

“If you want to see new faces then OK every four years we have an election.

“I have received support from different national associations to stand again.

“If I win ok, if lose I say thank you then go away.

“You will have your new face and then we will see what will happen.

“But I think it’s not new faces we shall have in FIFA.”

In a somewhat cryptic attack, Blatter then poured scorn on the 1998 election process when he beat Johansson hands down in Paris.

Several reports claimed Blatter’s victory was achieved through vote buying but he hinted that any wrongdoing came from the other camp.

“Who has bought votes in the first election?” he said.

“Go down to Paris on June 8, 1998, in the Meridien Montparansse, then you will see who has bought votes.

“If there are some other candidates [this time], then we will face other candidates – that’s a democratic system.

“The world will not stop and football will not stop.”

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