FIFA President Sepp Blatter has confirmed he will stand for a fifth term as president and "dismissed the prospect of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup being
disrupted by boycotts," according to Andy Hunter of the London GUARDIAN. Blatter said "my mission is not finished" as the head of FIFA. Blatter's decision to "stand again" for the FIFA presidency is "no surprise
and his re-election appears a formality" after UEFA President Michel Platini opted not to run. Blatter: "A mission is never finished and my
mission is not finished. ... I will inform the executive committee. It's a question of respect also
to say to the football family: 'Yes I will be ready. I will be a
candidate.'" The FIFA president said that Platini's decision "not to challenge came as no
surprise, but he did expect a contest" with another UEFA candidate (GUARDIAN, 9/8). REUTERS' Mike Collett reported before the World Cup started in Brazil in June, five of FIFA's six confederations -- the exception being UEFA -- gave Blatter "their support to continue as president and it is almost inconceivable that he will not be re-elected when voting takes place at the FIFA Congress in Zurich next June." Blatter said that he "knew of Platini's plans in advance of the Frenchman's announcement in Monte Carlo on August 28." Blatter: "I was not surprised because in private conversations I have had with Michel Platini before during and after the World Cup he has confirmed he would not be a candidate, but that there would be a contender" (REUTERS, 9/8). In London, Ben Rumsby reported Platini's announcement that he would "not run left Jerome Champagne," the former FIFA deputy general secretary, as Blatter's only opponent. FA Chair Greg Dyke "led calls for Blatter to stand down this summer," comparing his regime to that of "North Korea." Blatter said, "I know Greg Dyke. He's a man of communications. He's a man who is really in all the media. He knows it works. And if he has an outburst once, then so what? I still respect him because I think he's a good guy" (TELEGRAPH, 9/8).
BLATTER ADDRESSES RUSSIA: In London, Tom Peck reported answering calls from various politicians, including British Deputy PM
Nick Clegg, to "strip Russia of the 2018 World Cup," Blatter said, "FIFA trusts in the strengths of football that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups
will be played. There are already some voices coming out about 2018
talking about a boycott. A boycott in sport never has had any benefit.
Let us wait and see the geo-political situation and FIFA shall not
intervene with politics" (INDEPENDENT, 9/8). Blatter made his statements speaking via video link at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester.
