Blatter set to secure fourth term

Wednesday, 25th May 2011 at 04:23am

On June 1, 207 of the 208 football associations under the Fifa umbrella will submit their votes for the candidate they wish to see as head of 'the beautiful game' for the next four years.

England's football association have decided to abstain from the presidential vote because of the recent allegations of corruption levelled at Fifa and its Executive Committee.

On one side they have Sepp Blatter, the 75-year-old Swiss national who has been head of Fifa for the past 13 years and is seeking a fourth term, and on the other is Mohammad bin Hammam, head of the Asian Football Federation, looking to prise Blatter from his throne in the Fifa corridors of power.

While many have called for change - mostly fans who are sick of the way the game is being run - it is likely that current incumbent Blatter will retain his position at the top of Fifa's power structure through until 2015.

If, indeed, he is successful, Blatter has said he will stand down in 2015 and make way for a new president.

In the run up to election day, Blatter has already received pledges of support from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which contains 37 of Fifa's 208 members and UEFA, under the direction of head Michel Platini, a close ally of the 75-year-old Swiss national, have urged all of its remaining 52 members to back the current president.

In addition to CAF and UEFA, Blatter is believed to have the full support of the Oceania and South American regions, plus a large portion of the Central and North American region too.

This leaves Qatari bin Hammam, 62, facing an uphill struggle, although he is almost certain to be backed by the Asian Football Federation of which he is in control.

To secure victory, either candidate must secure two-thirds of the vote (138) in round one of voting or, failing that, a majority of the vote in round two.

Bin Hammam is Blatter's first challenger since 2002, when he overcame Cameroon's Issa Hayatou 139 votes to 56.

Tale of the Tape:

Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter:

Nationality: Swiss

Age: 75

Years as a Fifa member: 36

Current position: Fifa President

Election pledges: To change the way world cup hosts are chosen, to set up a watchdog committee to supervise how Fifa works and to repair Fifa's tarnished reputation.

Mohammad bin Hammam

Nationality: Qatari

Age 62

Years as a Fifa member: 15

Current position: President of the Asian Football Federation

Election pledges: More transparency for Fifa, introduce goal-line technology into football.

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