Analysis: FIFA president Sepp Blatter likely to win re-election on Friday
FIFA president Sepp Blatter struck a defiant tone on Thursday as he ventured into public for the first time since the indictment of 14 soccer officials and marketing executives on Wednesday.
Blatter addressed the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich, and his defiant remarks outlined the need for the organization to respond to the recent crisis. But they also reinforced his desire to retain his perch as president and sidestep any personal responsibility for the alleged corruption within his ranks.
"We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer," Blatter said. "It has to stop here and now. We -- or I -- cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will try to hide it. But it must fall to me to bear the responsibility for the reputation and the well-being of our organization and to find a way forward to fix things."
It is a responsibility Blatter will continue to bear for the foreseeable future. He is the overwhelming favorite to defeat Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and win a fifth term as FIFA president in the election scheduled for Friday afternoon in Zurich.
Blatter's continued hold on power in FIFA reflects the structure of the organization and underscores his considerable ability to maintain a firm base of support even in the wake of withering external scrutiny.
How are the candidates for the FIFA presidential election determined?
FIFA members are allowed to propose candidates for the office of FIFA president, under Article 24 of the FIFA Statutes. Those proposed candidates must receive the backing of five FIFA members and show they have played an active role in football for two of the past five years. They also must notify the FIFA general secretariat of their potential candidacy in writing at least four months before the start of the FIFA Congress.
All potential candidates must undergo an integrity check by the Ethics Committee before their names are forwarded to the ad-hoc Election Committee, pursuant to the Electoral Regulations for the FIFA presidency. The Election Committee then verifies the eligibility of the candidates.
Once those tasks are completed, the Election Committee admits and declares the eligibility of the candidates for the election. FIFA announced the four eligible candidates for this election on Feb. 9: Sepp Blatter (Switzerland), Luis Figo (Portugal), Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (Jordan) and Michael van Praag (Netherlands).
Who are the candidates in this election?
Blatter and Prince Ali are the only two choices on the ballot. Figo and van Praag both withdrew to consolidate support behind Prince Ali after it became clear neither of them had the votes necessary to win the election.
How long is the term?
Four years.
How does FIFA elect its president?
FIFA stages a vote during the Congress to elect the president. It is conducted by secret ballot, according to both the Electoral Regulations and the FIFA Statutes.
The new president is elected on the first ballot if he or she receives two-thirds of the votes or on the second (or any subsequent) ballot by receiving a majority of the votes cast, according to Article 27 of the FIFA Statues.
Who votes?
Each of the 209 member associations are eligible cast one, anonymous vote in presidential elections. These votes all count equally.
Only members who are present at the FIFA Congress are allowed to place a vote, according to Article 23 of the FIFA Statutes.
How are the votes broken down if all delegates are present?
FIFA Vote Distribution
| CONFEDERATION | NUMBER OF VOTES |
| Africa (CAF) | 54 |
| Asia (AFC) | 46 |
| Europe (UEFA) | 53 |
| North America (CONCACAF) | 35 |
| Oceania (OFC) | 11 |
| South America (CONMEBOL) | 10 |
Why is Blatter expected to win?
Blatter retains the public support of the AFC (46 votes), CAF (54 votes) and CONCACAF (35 votes).
Even if some federations peel off from their confederations, the strength of that combined voting bloc -- 135 votes in total, give or take any absences or dissenters -- is more than enough to carry him to victory.
UEFA is expected to back Prince Ali as a bloc, according to statements made by UEFA president Michel Platini on Thursday. Those 53 votes would provide Prince Ali with a firm base, but his lack of support from the AFC, his home federation, leaves him with few routes toward the 105 (give or take) votes required to secure election on the second ballot.
Will UEFA's threat to boycott future World Cups exert any influence on the election?
It is unlikely.
UEFA has spent most of the past two decades trying to unseat Blatter after Blatter defeated UEFA president Lennart Johansson to win his first term in 1998.
Blatter displayed his political prowess by currying and retaining support in other confederations -- particularly among smaller nations -- to ascend to the presidency and retain it for 17 years. Those measures place him in a strong position among FIFA members, even as controversy swirls around the organization.
Platini's threats -- hedged with his note that he doesn't wish to boycott the World Cup -- represent a bid to make the most of a tenuous political situation. The overwhelming support for Blatter from other confederations rather blunt their effects, though.
How will U.S. Soccer vote?
Updated at 7:00p.m. ET with Sunil Gulati's comments
U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati is currently in Zurich for the FIFA Congress. He also serves on the FIFA Executive Committee.
Gulati said during a conference call on Thursday night that U.S. Soccer will vote for Prince Ali. U.S. Soccer provided Prince Ali with one of six nominations -- England, Belarus, Malta, Georgia and Jordan supplied the others -- to back his candidacy. The decision to support him during the election does not come as a surprise.
“We’re going to be voting for him tomorrow,” Gulati said. “I have gotten to know Prince Ali over the past couple of years. He’s a very active member of the Executive Committee and he is an active proponent of reform at FIFA. He is a successful president at the Jordanian FA. We have supported a number of initiatives he has led, whether it is in women’s rights or in development work. But it really starts with his views on governance and reform.”
When U.S. Soccer casts its vote for Prince Ali, it would mark a departure: U.S. Soccer supported Blatter in the previous four elections.
