Sepp Blatter will be elected for another four years as
president of FIFA next month after no challenger to his position
stepped forward. The deadline for nominations has passed with no
rival being put forward to stand against Blatter, who has been
president of football's world governing body since
1998.
Blatter said: "I wish to thank all of the associations who have
demonstrated their trust in me in this way. "Over the past nine
years, I have managed to overcome a range of difficulties and bring
about several improvements thanks to their help and to the support
of other members of the global football family.
"During my third period of office, football will acquire a more
pronounced and extensive social role." Blatter was nominated by 66
of FIFA's 207 member associations and no challenger has
emerged.
He will be sworn in during the FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 31
for a third term in office until 2011. It is the first time Blatter
has not been challenged for the position as the most powerful man
in world football.
In 1998, he beat UEFA president Lennart Johansson and four years
later easily saw off the challenge of Issa Hayatou after a bitter
election battle.
