FA To Welcome Blatter Despite Snub
Current FIFA president Sepp Blatter will arrive in England next week to campaign for the Football Association’s vote in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections – less than four months after suggestions that Blatter played a pivotal role in the demise of England’s 2018 World Cup bid – according to media reports.
The Daily Mail has indicated that the FA is expected to invite the president and his entourage to a grand lunch, hosted by FA chairman David Bernstein at Wembley, when he arrives in the country next Monday.
Blatter is campaigning for votes for a fourth term in office, up against Mohamed bin Hammam.
Blatter’s last words to the FIFA ExCo, before they cast their votes to decide the 2018 World Cup hosts, was to remind them of the part the English media played in the bid campaign – and also did an interview for French TV at the weekend, claiming the BBC cost England the World Cup.
Bin Hammam announced his candidacy this month, is Blatter’s first challenger for the role since 2002.
?Bin Hammam, who played a central role in securing the 2022 World Cup for Qatar, said the current FIFA board of 24 should be increased to 41 – a plan that would dilute the power of Europe and South America – while boosting the representation from the rest of the world.
??The 61 year-old also made it clear that he would support the introduction of goal line technology, and of the extra two officials behind the goals.
The elections take place at the two-day FIFA Congress in Zurich, from 31st May.
