Sepp Blatter Outlines Campaign Promises To FIFA Members

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has promised to distribute $1B for soccer development and "called for 'continuous evolution ... not revolution' in his first direct pitch to be re-elected FIFA president for another four-year term." Blatter made the pledge in a four-page letter to 208 national associations. Blatter did not name Mohamed bin Hammam, his sole challenger in the election, in the letter, but "his repeated references to global challenges ... were interpreted as a swipe against the Qatari" (THETIMES.co.uk, 4/20).

There was "no mention of any plans to reform FIFA, despite the continued concerns over alleged corruption" among Exec Committee members and "the lack of transparency at the world governing body" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 4/20).