Saint or Sinner? Sepp Blatter will still rule Fifa
The Fifa president has as many backers as well as critics and remains a controversial figure as he seeks another four-year term at the helm
Unless the world of soccer shifts on its axis this Friday, Sepp Blatter will be re-elected as Fifa president for a fifth term at the annual congress of world soccer's governing body in Zurich.
It is almost inconceivable that the 79-year-old's only challenger, Fifa executive committee member Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, of Jordan, will unseat him.
Five of Fifa's six continental confederations publicly expressed their support for Blatter before the World Cup in Brazil last year, with Uefa declaring its opposition, meaning the vast majority of Fifa's 209 members will vote for him.
Even Uefa president Michel Platini decided to stay in his current role and not stand against the Swiss incumbent knowing he had no real chance of beating him
But even Uefa president Michel Platini decided to stay in his current role and not stand against the Swiss incumbent knowing he had no real chance of beating him.
That realistically removed any doubt that Blatter's 17-year reign would be extended until at least 2019 when he will be 83. Luis Figo and Michael van Praag pulled out of the race on Thursday.
Figo went out with a bang as he launched a blistering attack on the electoral system of soccer's governing body, saying it was a "plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man - something I refuse to go along with".
