Saturday 30 May 2015 07:01, UK
Sepp Blatter says he knows how to fix FIFA’s broken reputation after a traumatic week for football’s governing body.
The 79-year-old would not disclose details of his plans, but said work to re-build the organisation’s shattered image will begin immediately, and claimed members of FIFA’s executive committee will be surprised with his thoughts.
Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term as president of the organisation after rival candidate Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein withdrew despite forcing a second round of voting in Zurich.
World football was rocked on Wednesday as Swiss authorities launched dawn raids which saw 14 arrests in total, including nine FIFA executives, on the back of an FBI criminal investigation and staggering corruption allegations.
Despite this being the darkest week in FIFA’s history, Blatter defiantly held on to his position before the election, ignoring calls from the likes of UEFA president Michel Platini to resign.
Blatter said: “It was a very difficult congress due to the circumstances of these events, I would say also tragic events, on Wednesday and Thursday in Zurich and in the media throughout the world what they said about FIFA.
“This gives me now the time because I was identified to be responsible for what has happened.
“I take the responsibility and we have to build up a better image of FIFA and I know how to do it. I cannot disclose it now but we will do it as from tomorrow morning.
“We have a meeting of the executive committee and they will listen to me, they will receive some information or some messages – some of them will be surprised."
He added: “My address was spoken out of my heart and I think everybody understood that I’m serious in my messages and I want to stay there to take the responsibility and bring back this credibility.
“The message to the fans is now - trust and confidence. I know that is not so easy but we have to show that we are doing some movements.
“Where there are infractions concerning FIFA, the laws of the game, whether on the field of play or outside the field of play, we have to be very adamant – we have to go in.”
