Sepp Blatter "became the most powerful man in
international soccer Monday when he was named president of
FIFA, succeeding the retiring Joao Havelange," according to
Mike Penner of the L.A. TIMES. Both Blatter and his
opponent, European Soccer Union President Lennart Johansson,
"failed to garner enough votes on the first ballot," but
Blatter was elected after Johansson withdrew before the
second ballot. Penner writes that Blatter's victory is
"seen as a triumph for Havelange, a longtime rival of
Johansson," while the "bitter campaign" between the two was
"expensive," with the candidates reportedly spending more
than $1M combined. Penner: "Blatter, like his predecessor,
is a controversial figure in world soccer. He has proposed
sometimes radical changes in the sport." But Penner adds
that the victory "could benefit U.S. soccer." Blatter was
"very impressed" by the '94 World Cup and "one of his chief
supporters" was U.S. Soccer Federation President Alan
Rothenberg (L.A. TIMES, 6/9). NEWSDAY's Jerry Trecker
writes that Rothenberg is "expected to gain additional
international power and prestige" with the vote (NEWSDAY,
6/9). In N.Y., Jere Longman writes that "some believe"
Blatter's win could increase the chances of the U.S. hosting
another Cup, "perhaps as early as 2010" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/9).
Blatter: "I believe in the U.S. I believe the kids of the
U.S. represent its true future" (USA TODAY, 6/9).
BLATTER'S CONTROL: Blatter said he would "not deviate
much from the path that Havelange created in making the
World Cup the world's most widely viewed sporting event."
Blatter: "I am for continuity." Johansson called Blatter a
"puppet of Havelange's" and he campaigned for a "more open,
democratic and 'clean' federation." In N.Y., Jere Longman
reports that Johansson did "not receive as many votes as he
had expected from Africa" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/9). In DC, Anne
Swardson reports that once the head of the African
federation freed his members to "vote as they wished, the
way was clear for Blatter" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/9).
THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE: Johansson had said earlier that
FIFA officials had been distributing envelopes containing
$50,000 in cash "to officials of some national federations,"
but he refused to say that was a reason for his defeat
(WASHINGTON POST, 6/9). Blatter did not deny the
distribution of $50,000 in envelopes, but said "they were
cash pre-payments of previously agreed-to disbursements to
national federations" (INT'L HERALD TRIBUNE, 6/9).
