Australia and New Zealand abandon FIFA president Blatter

Australia's and New Zealand's soccer governing bodies have both joined a bloc of richer nations and turned against embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the lead-up to a crucial vote over who will run the corruption-riddled world game.

Football associations and sponsors around the world are increasingly uneasy about Mr Blatter's leadership after Wednesday's arrest by US law enforcement agencies of 14 leading officials over charges including racketeering and money laundering.

The powerful and influential European and American football associations have both turned decisively against Mr Blatter, who is seeking his fifth term as president of FIFA. They will vote for his only rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, to become president.

But with wide support among smaller nations and football associations among the 209 constituent organisations of FIFA, Mr Blatter was confident enough to dig in his heels on Friday.

"I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work and integrity of the vast majority who work so hard," he said.

"I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community, whether it's a decision for the hosting of a World Cup or a corruption scandal," Mr Blatter said in a speech to open two days of meetings in Zurich, Switzerland.

"We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it."

If Mr Blatter is to win, it will be because of the amount of money FIFA has pumped into developing the game, (and increasing his own popularity) in a multitude of smaller countries – each of whose votes carry the same value as the votes of the larger nations.

The head of the Barbados Football Association, Randolph 'Randy' Harris, candidly made the point on Thursday, decrying the scandal but seeming to back Mr Blatter.

"It is a scandal," he said. "I have not been exposed to it personally ... so this has been a real shocker and an eye-opener for me."

But he said he – and other delegates from the Caribbean – had not yet decided whether to vote against the incumbent.

"We are going to vote for the candidate who we think can do the most for us – and we are still contemplating who we think it is."

Mr Harris explained that, for a tiny nation like Barbados, the funds supporting the development of football had been a lifeline, and he clearly believed that Mr Blatter could be thanked for that.

"We are small countries … obviously we have been getting a lot of help with our coaching and other aspects of football, and facilities which are important for the game.

"[Mr Blatter] has some pretty good policies for countries like us. That is the point. That is the point."

Australia's vote against Mr Blatter could rebound on it within its own World Cup group, the Asian Football Confederation, where it is already unpopular among its fellow nations after moving from the Oceania group.

The head of Football Federation Australia, Frank Lowy, did not comment before the meeting began, except to say in a statement that "profound change within FIFA is needed as soon as possible to address issues of governance and transparency".

Sport Minister Sussan Ley said there were "serious questions about the practices that occurred under the current leadership and they need to be addressed".

"Corruption of any form ... has no place in sport," she said.

Prince Ali's manifesto "provides the basis for a fresh start for FIFA", the statement said.

Ultimately, the sponsors may also have a say. Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch and adidas have all issued statements pressuring the organisation to maintain strong ethical standards. Such companies pay an estimated $39 million annually for official sponsorship tied to major soccer events, such as the World Cup.

"Should FIFA fail to do so, we have informed them that we will reassess our sponsorship," Visa said in a statement.

Hyundai, the South Korean car maker, said it was "extremely concerned" and would "monitor the situation closely".

with Washington Post