Sepp Blatter has recently affirmed that the UEFA do not have enough courage to question his leadership at the FIFA presidential election coming up soon. He has therefore requested them to support his cause instead.
Other confirmed challengers to the coveted presidential position are Jerome Champagne and current FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin al Hussein. The 78-year-old Blatter believes that the majority of opposition for his leadership would come from Europe for the 2015 election.
Two other unlikely candidates battling against Blatter are David Ginola, former Tottenham winger and renowned player agent Mino Raiola. Both of them had massively criticised the FIFA regime.
Raiola, who is currently representing Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has compared Blatter to a dictator and told the media that it was high time for a change. However, Blatter, on his part, told the media that it is quite unfortunate that all these oppositions should come now, especially from UEFA. He challenged those who are opposing him to come out and if they are unable to do so, to let him go on. He pledged for some respect from his opponents.
Blatter got elected to the position for the very first time in 1998 and then got elected in three consecutive elections since that year. He has stated that he had a mission to reform football and has pledged for unity from UEFA’s side, by calling for the team spirit that should characterise football.
FIFA, however, has been subject to major criticisms, especially since Qatar and Russia were awarded the 2022 and 2018 World Cups hosting in 2010.