FIFA President Sepp Blatter "has performed a U-turn on his pledge" not to stand for a fifth term, claiming that "his mission at the governing body is not yet complete," according to Tom Vickers of the LONDON TIMES. Blatter "will see his present mandate come to an end in 2015." He had stated that "his latest four-year stint would be his last but the Swiss now says he will run for re-election again next May." Blatter said, "I’m a candidate again. My mandate has ended but my mission is not finished. The election will be held in 2015." Blatter, as recently as last year, suggested that "he would not be seeking a fifth term in office," naming UEFA President Michel Platini and Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President and FIFA and UEFA VP Ángel Maria Villar as possible successors. Blatter: “The most important thing for me is that the person who takes over FIFA does so with the spirit of globalization of soccer that we have developed in recent years” (LONDON TIMES, 5/9). The BBC reported the election "will be held in Zurich in June next year." FIFA VP Jeffrey Webb and former Deputy General Secretary Jerome Champagne have been tipped as alternatives to Blatter as a future FIFA president, but both have said that "they would not stand in opposition to the current incumbent" (BBC, 5/9).
