News

Sepp Blatter Reelected As FIFA President

Sepp Blatter has been elected to a fifth term as president of FIFA.

Blatter's challenger, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, conceded to Blatter after the first round of votes at the FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland Thursday. The first round's votes totaled 133 for Blatter and 73 for Hussein. Blatter needed 140 votes to win outright, and so the election continued to a second vote, but Prince Ali conceded before the end of the second vote.

Blatter has been President of FIFA since 1998. 

Blatter compared FIFA to a boat in his acceptance speech, that he will steer back to shore.

FIFA has been embroiled in a corruption scandal. Fourteen FIFA officials and business executives were arrested at a Zurich hotel earlier this week in connection with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, leading some to speculate whether this would cause Blatter not to be reelected. This did not prove to be the case.

"I am now the president of everybody," Blatter said.

Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus

Videos you might like