A source close to FIFA President Sepp Blatter said that the 79-year-old "does not rule out staying on as president after receiving renewed support from Africa and Asia," according to Patrik Müller of SCHWEIZ AM SONNTAG. The source said Blatter, who resigned only days after being re-elected to a fifth term as head of FIFA, said that "he was honored by the support and could reconsider his resignation." The African and Asian football federations will "reportedly try to prevent Blatter from resigning as FIFA president." Public relations advisor Klaus Stöhlker said, "It is difficult to find someone who is on par [with Blatter]. Blatter has turned the federation into a very successful global corporation -- and he's a top diplomat. Blatter has a fair chance. It depends how he behaves over the next months" (SCHWEIZ AM SONNTAG, 6/13). In London, Owen Gibson reported FIFA Audit & Compliance Committee Independent Chair Domenico Scala "has underlined the need for a new president and for widespread reform" in the wake of reports that the incumbent Blatter could try and stand again despite promising to quit. Scala "is understood to be adamant that he must keep his promise to stand down." He said, "For me, the reforms are the central topic. That is why I think it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of president’s change as it has been announced." FIFA insiders "swiftly branded" the suggestion "nonsense" (GUARDIAN, 6/14). The BBC's Dan Roan reported one of the reforms Scala "has recommended, as well as greater financial transparency and a new governance structure, is three terms of a maximum 12 years in total" for both the president and FIFA exec committee members.
Blatter "has already served 17 years" (BBC, 6/14).
