Blatter promises to stand down after one more term as FIFA President

By Andrew Warshaw in Paris

March 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter will stand down in 2015 if re-elected in June for a fourth term of office, he promised here today.

Mohamed Bin Hammam, who is challenging Blatter for the Presidency, claimed yesterday that there was no guarantee the 75-year-old Swiss would stick to his pledge to give up the role after 13 years in charge.

But Blatter made it clear today he will not try to stay on any longer.

“You know I aspire to another four years,” he told the UEFA Congress in the French capital.

“These will be the last four years for which I stand as candidate.”

Blatter’s remarks will have been keenly noted not only by Bin Hammam, sitting in the front row of delegates as a guest of the Congress, and also by UEFA President Michel Platini who himself has ambitions to take over the top job.

“Together we have the task of bringing together the adventure we have started,” added Blatter.

“We want to ensure a better future for our youth.”

Blatter’s remarks could be interpreted as an appeal to the 53 European countries to support him and not Bin Hammam – in the knowledge he will make way for Platini to take over in four years’ time.

Interestingly, Bin Hammam had yesterday refused to rule out cutting a deal with Platini to oust Blatter but is unlikely to go down that road, preferring to go for at least two terms.

Blatter also told the Congress, taking place at the majestic Grand Palais off the Champs Elysees, that FIFA would be introducing a “zero tolerance” philosophy regarding corruption, hardly surprising given the recent World Cup bidding scandal over which two FIFA Executive Committee members were banned.

“We can see cases of corruption that really hurt the whole football family and for this reason at the FIFA Congress we will show we will have zero tolerance,” Blatter said.

“We will have zero tolerance on the pitch, more education, more respect towards the referees.

“There will be zero tolerance beyond the pitch – we have the instruments for that, the disciplinary committee, the Ethics Committee, and it’s time to act.

“We will do whatever is necessary.”

Blatter also praised Platini’s plan of having two extra assistant referees behind each goalline, now being trialled in European club competition and some international games despite clamours for goalline technology.

“I’m happy to commend UEFA for its revolutionary view of refereeing,” he said.

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