Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein and Sepp Blatter have addressed voters ahead of Friday’s presidential election, and we’re onto the vote.
Blatter, who has been FIFA’s president since 1998, was running against three competitors before two -- Michael van Praag and Luis Figo -- dropped out, leaving only Al-Hussein as opponent.
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Each candidate had a 15-minute window to address the voters, with the challenger going first.
In Al-Hussein’s speech, in which he called FIFA the guardians of the game and said, “This time everything is at stake, for the game, for the world.”
He took some shots at Blatter, saying he will not hide when things are bad and step forward when things are good. He called FIFA “not a company, but a service organization.” Al-Hussein committed to transparency, and to listen and learn.
Al-Hussein promised a vote for him would “win the right to a new beginning” and closed by asking the voters to use their conscience and hearts.
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - MAY 29: FIFA Presidential candidate H.R.H Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan talks to UEFA President Michel Platini of France prior to the 65th FIFA Congress at the Hallenstadion on May 29, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Matthias Hangst - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Then Blatter took the stage.
He said, “We don’t need revolutions, but we always need evolutions”. Blatter accepted responsibility for “the storm” that has hit FIFA in recent days, and promised a “strong” and “beautiful” FIFA.
Blatter said that FIFA needs to protect its house from racism, violence, doping and match manipulation in addition to corruption.
It’s worth noting that should he win, Blatter’s fifth term could be incredibly short, unless he’s installed language that allows him to govern either in disgrace, or in prison.
Would you put it past him?