FIFA President Sepp Blatter has an "uncomfortable UEFA Congress in prospect next week," according to Mark Bisson of WORLD FOOTBALL INSIDER. UEFA is reportedly "allocating time for the Swiss and the three challengers to the FIFA throne to pitch the 54 European federations for their support." A UEFA source said that the presentations are not on the agenda but "look very likely" to feature at the end of the March 24 congress in Vienna. The source said, "I believe the challengers to Blatter's throne will get some time at the end of the congress to speak with the national associations about their plans and manifestos." While there is "no set format in place," Blatter, FIFA VP Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, former Portugal player Luis Figo and Dutch FA President Michael van Praag "are expected to each get around 15 minutes to make a presentation." No panel debate or Q&A "is foreseen." With "plenty to lose and little to gain in any panel debate, Blatter has already registered his objections to participating in such a forum on several occasions." UEFA seems "unlikely to formally back any candidate next week." But Europe's 54 federations will be "encouraged to vote against Blatter to help restore FIFA's battered integrity and reputation" (WORLD FOOTBALL INSIDER, 3/18).
