Sepp Blatter was re-elected as the president of FIFA after election in Zurich despite a £100million bribery investigation and a growing police inquiry. He secured victory by 133 votes to 73 at the FIFA Congress in Zurich meaning he will continue to lead the organisation into his 80s.
Blatter was seven short of a majority and his opponent Prince Ali bin al-Hussein could have taken voting to a second round - but decided to withdraw. The 79-year-old enters a fifth term at the helm of football's governing body. His first challenge is to deal with £100m corruption scandal.
UEFA must now decide whether to go through with Michel Platini's threat to boycott the World Cup. Blatter earlier said £100m corruption scandal was a western conspiracy. He said there would be no problem if 'two other countries' - meaning England and the USA - were awarded World Cups in 2018 and 2022
In a bizarre victory speech, the 79-year-old thanked 'God, Allah or whoever' and added: 'I am not perfect, nobody is perfect but we will do a good job together... Let's go FIFA! Let's go!'
In his acceptance speech, Blatter, who has been in charge since 1998 and will serve another four years said: 'First of all I would like to give compliments and express my gratitude to his Royal Highness Prince Ali.
'He was a competitor, a challenger and he has obtained a very good result. He could have easily said 'let's go further - perhaps I will receive more votes'.
'I thank you that you accepted me and for the next four years I will be in command of this boat called FIFA and we will bring it back off shore and back to the beach. We will finally bring ot back to where football can be played.
'I take the responsibility to bring back FIFA and I am convinced we can do it. I'm a faithful man and God will help us bring back FIFA to where it should be.
'I promise you that at the end of this term I will give FIFA to my successor in a strong position.'
The victory is also set to see further protests from UEFA - the first action has come from David Gill, the Football Association vice-chairman who will reject the post of British vice-president as he does not want to serve under Blatter.
Gill will not attend the post-Congress executive committee meeting on Saturday where a decision is set to be taken on the allocation of World Cup places to each confederation.
UEFA president Michel Platini reiterated his desire for change within FIFA, saying: 'I am proud UEFA has supported a movement for change at FIFA, which in my opinion is crucial.'
THE 14 MEN CHARGED IN UNITED STATES INVESTIGATION INTO FIFA CORRUPTION
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