MSNBC
Despite the chaos and controversy engulfing world football’s governing body, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has secured a fifth term in charge, according to The Guardian newspaper.
The 79-year-old defeated his rival, the Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein. Blatter polled 133 votes to Prince Ali’s 73, which would have been enough to take the contest to a potential second round but his 39-year-old challenger withdrew.
It could yet prove a hollow victory. Blatter has weathered the storm in the short term but the result leaves him presiding over a split FIFA as he faces the biggest self-inflicted crisis in its 111-year history. “For the next four years I will be in command of this boat called FIFA and we will bring it back ashore, we will bring it back to the beach,” he said, promising to make this four year term his last.
Blatter gained 133 votes to Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein’s 73 in the first round of voting, not enough to secure a two-thirds majority, but the challenger conceded defeat.
Prince Ali will claim a moral victory, writes The Guardian newspaper.
Blatter appeared giddy after winning his fifth term as president, writes The Guardian. “I like you, I like my job and I like to be with you. I’m not perfect, nobody’s perfect,” he said. “Trust and confidence, together we go,” he said.
Also, Zurich police confirmed today that they were responding to a bomb alert at the venue where FIFA is hosting its widely-watched annual congress, amid a massive corruption scandal that has seen several FIFA officials detained.
Zurich police spokeswoman Brigitte Vogt confirmed that a bomb alert had been received at the venue where FIFA is holding the scheduled vote for the presidency that Blatter is expected to win, writes the South China Morning Post.
“I can confirm there has been a bomb threat against the FIFA congress, officers have been dispatched,” the spokeswoman said.
Above, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch comments on the FIFA corruption bust saying, it was a “long-running” investigation and the DOJ will bring the wrong-doers to justice.
(Updated post)
OK, Fine. 