FIFA President Sepp Blatter, has won his bid for re-election in a vote that has been overshadowed by the arrest of top FIFA officials accused of corruption.
Blatter’s opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, pulled his name out of the election after the first round of voting. Blatter fell seven votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to win the election in the first round.
FIFA elections took place just as an international scandal burst open, with seven top FIFA officials were arrested in Switzerland on Wednesday as part of a US prosecution that indicted 14 people.
Blatter, 79, has been facing significant pressure to resign, including from the UK Prime Minister David Cameron who said in Berlin that “the sooner he quits the better.”
Blatter maintained the legitimacy of his Presidency, when addressing his win he thanked all those who voted for him and his rival, Prince Ali.
Mr Blatter said: “I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure.”
He also stated that this, his fifth term as President could be his last, saying: “At the end of my term I will give up FIFA in a strong position.”
