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FIFA chief Sepp Blatter hits back at Luis Figo claims

FIFA President Sepp Blatter (right) and FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce at the IFAB meeting
Image: FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce (left) and Sepp Blatter: Dismissing Luis Figo claims

Sepp Blatter hit back at claims from Luis Figo that he is a dictator and expressed confidence that he will be re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president on Friday.

The 79-year-old is facing Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan in Friday's election at the FIFA Congress in Zurich, after former Portugal international Figo and Dutch FA president Michael van Praag pulled out of the race last week.

Figo said he was not prepared to stand until 'it is proven to me that we are not living under a dictatorship', and that the election was about the 'delivery of absolute power to one man'.

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Sepp Blatter has responded for the first time to Luis Figo's claims that the current President presides over a 'dictatorship'.

Blatter told Sky Sports News HQ: "Luis Figo is free to say what he wants to say because he's free you can ask him why to be called (me) a dictator? I have received so many titles, but I am still the president until Friday."

Asked if he was confident of winning the election, Blatter added: "You know me, I'm an optimist so of course I'm confident."

Meanwhile, out-going FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has also defended the world governing body from Figo's claims.

Boyce told Sky Sports News HQ: "I can't say it is (a dictatorship). A lot of people have asked me this question at the Exco meetings people like myself and other new members we have been given our place and if there was something that I have wanted to say I have said it. I have never been refused permission at any time to make my views or other peoples' views known. So I don't think it is fair to claim a dictatorship and I have certainly not found that.

"There were four presidential candidates and now we only have Prince Ali. I am little bit surprised because I felt it was giving people the opportunity if they wanted change to have change.  I will be surprised if Sepp Blatter does not get the necessary support in the election on Friday."

Boyce's four-year reign will end on Friday when the Home Nations vice presidency passes to former Manchester United chief executive David Gill.

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