Sepp Blatter won’t stand for fifth term

Swiss Blatter, who turned 77 this month, was elected president of soccer’s world governing body in 1998 and has consistently refused to rule out standing again in two years as long as his health permits.

“I will not carry on as long as there is at least one candidate prepared to continue my work,” Blatter said in an interview with Spanish sports daily As published on Thursday.

“The most important thing for me is that the person who takes over Fifa does so with the spirit of globalisation of soccer that we have developed in recent years,” he added.

Blatter named two possible successors: former France international Michel Platini, who is the president of European governing body Uefa, and Angel Maria Villar, the president of the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) and a vice president of both Uefa and Fifa.

“Michel Platini could be a possible successor as we started together in 1998,” Blatter said.
“On the other side is Angel Villar who has had a long career and has good contacts in America and Africa and who would also be a good candidate.

“I don’t know if there is a deal between Villar and Platini on these Uefa and Fifa issues but in any case the elections for the Fifa presidency in 2015 will be open and democratic.”
Meanwhile, Fifa has tightened financial accounting standards in its US$800 million development budget as part of transparency and anti-corruption reforms.

Fifa says new rules were agreed to this week and will apply to its 209 member associations and six confederations from July 1.
The reforms were overseen by Domenico Scala, independent chairman of its Audit and Compliance Committee.

Members must supply Fifa with detailed accounts, and have them audited in Zurich every five years, to be eligible for development funds.
Fifa will allocate US$800 million in a four-year financial cycle tied to the 2014 World Cup.

Members must now seek at least three tendering offers for US$50 000-plus project expenses.
Fifa had long been criticised for not scrutinising how grants of US$400 000-US$500 000 were allocated and spent in its Goal development programme. — Soccernet.