Joseph Blatter, who has been at the helm of FIFA since 1998, has announced his intention to run for a fifth term as president of the international football governing body in 2015. Blatter, who celebrated his 78th birthday in March, expressed his desire to continue his mission, stating, “My mandate is coming to an end, but my mission is not over.”
Blatter’s announcement, made in an interview with the daily Blick, was not unexpected, as he had previously hinted at his candidacy for re-election. The decision comes ahead of the FIFA congress scheduled for June 10 and 11 in Sao Paulo, where Blatter’s candidacy is expected to be formally announced.
Frenchman Jérôme Champagne, the first declared candidate for the presidency, has been campaigning since January. Another potential contender, Michel Platini, president of UEFA, has yet to confirm his candidacy but has indicated that he will announce his decision after the World Cup. Platini previously stated that he believes he is “the only person who can beat Sepp Blatter.”
Tags: election, FIFA, Joseph Blatter, Switzerland
