ZURICH – Sepp Blatter was re-elected FIFA president on Wednesday after a major bribery scandal left him as the only candidate to deal with a sport reeling from a wave of corruption allegations.
Blatter, a 75-year-old Swiss executive who has been in office since 1998, was handed a final four-year term as head of soccer’s governing body in a vote at FIFA’s congress.
He received 186 votes out of 203 ballots.
After a tense week of drama and controversy surrounding his unchallenged candidacy, Blatter was beaming as he came into the congress hall to a standing ovation and warm applause after the result was announced.
“Vamos!” said an ebullient Blatter, using the Spanish term for “Let’s go!”
“We will put FIFA’s ship back on the right course in clear transparent waters,” he said in French. “We will need some time. We cannot do it from one day to the next. It’s a new challenge for me and I accept it.”
The election went ahead after England’s call for a postponement of Blatter’s unopposed “coronation” amid the ethics crisis was overwhelmingly rejected by the delegates.
Hours earlier, Blatter promised fundamental reform to tackle the scandals and vowed to let the 208 national federations choose the host of future
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