Joseph Sepp Blatter Re-Elected As FIFA President At 65th Congress

Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) President Joseph Sepp Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term of office by the 65th FIFA Congress, held on Friday 29 May at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.

209 FIFA member nations including the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) attended the congress.

FUFA openly expressed overwhelming support for the Blatter re-election and was well represented by the Federation president, Eng.Moses Magogo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Edgar Watson and the first Vice President, Justus Mugisha.

Blatter, a Swiss national was declared winner after the withdraw of Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein from the poll prior to the second of voting.

By the first round, which Blatter was leading comfortably, 133 votes to 73,  neither of the two candidates had gained a third of the votes in the first round as required by FIFA statutes.

FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke announced a repeat of elections but Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein gave up, granting Blatter outright victory.

Mr. Blatter, 79, was quick to praise his challenger shortly after the election;

First of all I would like to give compliments and express gratitude to Prince Ali. Because he was a challenger and he has obtained a very good result. He could have said ‘no, let’s go further and perhaps I would have received more votes. But I thank you for accepting me for the next four years. I will be in command of this boat called Fifa and we will bring it back to shore.

Next year’s FIFA Congress will take place in Mexico City, on 12 and 13 May 2016.