Blatter Brushes Off Calls to Step Down

(ATR) FIFA president Sepp Blatter has told his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini he will not step down as pressure mounts on the embattled Swiss following the latest corruption scandal to tarnish his leadership.

According to the BBC, the 79-year-old was asked by the Frenchman to resign on Thursday morning. He said no, and should the election still go ahead - it's item 17 on the agenda tomorrow - he remains favorite to win a fifth term as head of world football.

English FA head Greg Dyke also called for Blatter to step aside. He told Sky Sports News that he thinks the tide could be turning for Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the Jordanian seeking to oust the FIFA chief in the election.

Dyke suggested Ali "could win" in the wake of the U.S.-led corruption raid on a luxury Zurich hotel and indictment of 14 FIFA and sports marketing officials on racketeering, fraud and money laundering charges, which sent shockwaves through world football.

World Cup sponsors including Coca-Cola and Visa are concerned. Visa said it was reconsidering its sponsorship, calling for an overhaul of FIFA's governance with a focus on "strongethical practices."

The FIFA chief convened an emergency meeting of the confederation leaders at the home of world football's governing body, minus CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, who was arrested on corruption charges yesterday.

After a UEFA meeting in Zurich on Thursday, Platini and his executive committee ruled out boycotting the FIFA presidential election, according to Sky Sports News. David Gill also took a stand against Blatter, confirming that he would not take up British vice presidency seat if Blatter is re-elected.

Written by Mark Bisson

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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