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US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati will vote for change. Photo: AP

US to vote against Blatter as cracks appear in Fifa supremo’s iron-clad support

Sunil Gulati says Friday's presidential vote will be a lot closer 'than projected some weeks ago'

AFP

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said he is joining the bid to oust embattled Fifa president Sepp Blatter, in a move that could risk America’s chances of hosting another World Cup.

“US Soccer will vote for Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein for next president of Fifa,” Gulati tweeted on the eve of the global football body’s presidential vote.

But for me, and for US soccer, better governance and more integrity at Concacaf and Fifa are far more important than hosting any international soccer tournament
Sunil Gulati, US Soccer Federation president 

“This is a vote for good governance & promise for our game,” added Gulati, who is also a member of Fifa’s powerful executive committee and is in Zurich, Switzerland, for the congress.

“I think you’ll see a lot closer vote tomorrow than people would have projected some weeks ago,” said Gulati, who said Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani told him Canada would also vote for Ali.

Cracks also appeared in Blatter’s iron-clad support from Asia, with Australian officials said they were planning to vote for Prince Ali, in direct contrast to the Asian Football Confederation which had earlier re-affirmed its support for Blatter.

And New Zealand, part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFA), said it was also reviewing its backing for Blatter in Friday’s re-election bid.

The 79-year-old Blatter is facing increasing calls to step aside after US authorities levelled accusations of “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted corruption” in the sport.

Blatter himself has not been implicated, but seven officials were arrested in a dawn raid on a Zurich hotel on Wednesday, accused of taking more than US$150 million in bribes.

A total of 14 officials and marketing executives are accused by US investigators of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering.

Gulati told the New York Times that anger quickly followed his shock and disappointment at the indictments.

That anger, he added, only confirmed a decision he had already made, that the US would vote for the only man opposing Blatter’s re-election to a fifth term.

Gulati acknowledged that such a vote could dim US hopes of hosting a future World Cup.

“Would I like to see the United States host a World Cup in the future?” Gulati said. “The answer is, of course, yes.

“But for me, and for US soccer, better governance and more integrity at Concacaf and Fifa are far more important than hosting any international soccer tournament.”

With its burgeoning appetite for high-level football, the United States has long been regarded as a front-runner for the 2026 World Cup.

But FFA chairman Frank Lowy released a statement after arriving in Switzerland, announcing Australia would switch its support to Prince Ali.

“FFA believes that profound change within Fifa is needed as soon as possible to address issues of governance and transparency,” the statement read. “This belief will be reflected when Australia casts its vote in the presidential election, should it proceed on Friday in Zurich.”

All 11 member nations of the OFC had pledged to back Blatter at their January congress in Papua New Guinea, but New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin cast doubt on the bloc’s unity amid the unfolding corruption scandal.

“It’s every man for himself,” Martin told New Zealand media. “We have done very well under the current regime but that doesn’t mean things can’t change.

“We have to assess the merits of both candidates. We are here trying to do the best we can for football in New Zealand. We are mindful we have to get this right.”

Martin, who said New Zealand could abstain from voting, added that he had met Prince Ali to hear his vision for the organisation, though not Blatter, who withdrew from several public appearances before delivering the opening address.

“We’ve had a lot of time with a lot of the countries, with Uefa, Asia, Australia and the other members of OFC.

“We’ve worked hard to get a very good sense of where everyone is this evening. There’s a lot of frustration, confusion and people looking for clarity.”

Agence France-Presse, Reuters

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