Blatter could still stand for recall at Fifa
SEPP Blatter could still perform an about-turn on his promise to step down as president of Fifa, a former adviser said yesterday.
The International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) did not deny that possibility.
Klaus Stoehlker, who advised Blatter during the election campaign at the end of last month, said Blatter could remain head of Fifa if a convincing candidate to replace him did not emerge.
Fifa said yesterday Stoehlker, who was in a meeting when contacted and unable to comment, was no longer working with Blatter.
“Klaus Stoehlker’s mandate from the Fifa president ended on May 31. The president would like to point to his remarks of June 2,” it said, referring to Blatter’s brief that he would call a fresh election and that he would not be a candidate.
English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke does not think Blatter will have a change of heart.
“I think it [an about-turn] is extremely unlikely. I think it would be very controversial,” Dyke said. “There would be a rebellion among a lot of people.”
However, Blatter has changed his mind in the past. In 2011, he said his fourth mandate would be his last, but then stood again this year.
Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as Fifa president on May 29, when his opponent Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein withdrew after Blatter had won the first round of voting by 133 to 73.
Four days later, as corruption allegations continued to batter Fifa, Blatter said he would stand down and call a new election, due to be held between December and February.
The FBI is investigating bribery and corruption at Fifa, including scrutiny of how it awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar.
US Assistant attorney-general Leslie Caldwell said yesterday the investigation into Fifa was not shouldered solely by the US.
The US Justice Department “has worked closely with the leading Fifa prosecutors to obtain evidence from numerous countries across the globe”, Caldwell said. “The US is part of a growing coalition of international enforcement partners who combat corruption around the world.”
On Sunday, a Swiss newspaper said Blatter might seek to stay on as president. It said he had received messages of support from African and Asian football associations, and that they wanted him to reconsider his decision. – Reuters