In "a rare interview" with a free Swiss daily newspaper during his re-election campaign, FIFA President Sepp Blatter claimed he has tried to "tame the monster" of football's success during his 17-year reign, according to the AP. Blatter told Tuesday's edition of 20 Minutes that his presidency "benefited from a boom" in football's finances and development fueled by TV rights deals. Blatter said predecessor João Havelange once told him, "Sepp, you created a monster." In reply, Blatter said he told Havelange, "Yes, but I try to tame the monster." Blatter, who has seen FIFA's income top $2B for the first time in '14, said the power of the sport is "wonderful even if at the same time it's scary." The daily newspaper reported that "questions about the May 29 election were not allowed for its interview, tied to a FIFA-promoted youth tournament." Blatter said, "I am the president and not a candidate. This is why I don't want to speak about this vote." Asked if FIFA would remain in Zurich beyond his reign, Blatter said that "no one wanted the governing body to leave." Blatter: "Believe me, the delegates are very gladly come to Switzerland. Switzerland is a paradise" (AP, 5/13).
