FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks at the opening ceremony of the FIFA congress in Zuerich. Photo / AP
FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks at the opening ceremony of the FIFA congress in Zuerich. Photo / AP
Sepp Blatter has admitted "more bad news will follow" for FIFA as he claimed the £100m (NZ$213m) corruption scandal is not his fault because he "can't monitor everyone all the time."
After refusing a request from UEFA president Michel Platini to stand down, Blatter told the FIFA congress in Zurich that "if people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it."
The French chief of UEFA met Blatter one-on-one overnight and asked him to quit but he refused, saying it would not be possible before tomorrow's presidential election.
Platini confirmed that all his member nations in Europe have been asked to vote for Blatter's opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, after two separate criminal probes were launched into FIFA.
And Platini has not ruled out the possibility of a World Cup boycott if Blatter is re-elected, saying "we will be open to all options."
But Blatter, appearing in public for the first time since the scandal broke on Wednesday morning, was defiant as he addressed delegates.
He said: "These are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA. The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this week's congress.
"The actions of individuals, if proven, bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all. We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer.
"I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions of the global football community, whether the destination of the hosting of the World Cup or a corruption scandal.
"I cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it.
"But it must fall to me to uphold the reputation of our organisation. I will not allow the actions of a minority to destroy the integrity of the vast majority of those who work hard for football.
"They must be caught and held responsible for their actions. Football cannot be the exception of the rule.
"That is our responsibility at FIFA and we will co-operate with all authorities to make sure anyone involved in wrong doing from top to bottom will be caught and punished. There can be no place for corruption of any kind.
"The next few months will not be easy for FIFA, I'm sure more bad news will follow but it is necessary to restore trust in our organisation. Let this be the turning point."
Platini had earlier told a press conference in Zurich, where the FIFA Congress is underway: "Enough is enough, too much is too much.
"I'm not going to focus on what is being done in terms of justice but in terms of our image, it is not good at all. I am not the first to be disgusted by this.
"It's because I can tell you that tomorrow, when it comes to the election of the president, a very, very big majority will vote for Prince Ali.
"We support Prince Ali - and we ask others to do the same. I have tears in my eyes but there have been too many scandals. FIFA does not deserve to be treated this way, it is the mother of football.
"People have had enough, people no longer want the president anymore.
"It is important for FIFA to be strong, but FIFA is no longer strong."
When asked for details of his meeting in Blatter's office, Platini said: "Sepp was affected, I spoke to him as a friend. I said you have to leave, he said it is too late.
"It is not easy to tell a friend he must leave. I did. Now you know as much as I do.
President of UEFA Michel Platini grimaces during a press conference. Photo / AP
"I know what is his strategy. Some people give some speeches. He will win and point at the democracy. But Fifa is already lost."
Asked if a boycott of FIFA competitions was a possibility, Platini said: "UEFA associations will meet in Berlin next week. We will be open to all options."
Pressed further on the prospect of a World Cup boycott, he added: "There may be proposals. I honestly don't wish that."
Meanwhile, David Gill will resign as Britain's representative on the FIFA executive committee if Blatter is re-elected.
The former Manchester United chief executive told a meeting of UEFA delegates on Thursday that he did not feel he could discharge his duties as a FIFA official under a Blatter regime.
Gill received a round of applause from his fellow European representatives after making the "honourable" stand.
Protesters from the global campaign movement Avaaz demanded the resignation of Sepp Blatter over the FIFA corruption scandal and rights abuses of World Cup construction workers in Qatar. Photo / AP
John Delaney, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, said: "David Gill stood up and said he won't take up his seat, that was the big thing. I think it was very brave and very honest of him and there was a good round of applause, people thought 'that's a man of honour'.
"From his own personal perspective he doesn't want to serve under Blatter and you have to respect that position.
"There wasn't a vote taken but Michel Platini will tell you UEFA is unified, whether all 53 transfer their votes over I don't know, I think one or two will be lost along the way."
It comes as UEFA confirmed they would not boycott Friday's vote in Zurich, which is expected to return Blatter for a fifth term.
They will instead support Blatter's opponent, Prince Ali, who is increasingly confident of securing the 105 votes needed to win.
There are suggestions in Zurich that if Blatter is returned to office by a slim margin, an emergency general meeting could be called to try to overthrow him.
It comes after two investigations were launched on Wednesday into endemic corruption at the heart of FIFA, leading to the dramatic early morning arrest of seven officials at a luxury hotel.
A United States-led investigation charged 14 people, including nine serving and former FIFA officials, with racketeering, fraud and money laundering totalling £100m.
In other developments on day two of the FIFA scandal:
- Russian president Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his backing for Blatter by accusing the United States of meddling in the affairs of other countries. - Prime Minister David Cameron joined the growing calls for Blatter to quit. - The delegate from Guinea-Bissau, Manuel Nascimento Lopes, said the allegations against Blatter were 'blasphemy'. - Leading FIFA sponsor Visa threatened to withdraw their backing and others expressed concern over the corruption investigations. - Blatter failed to make a scheduled appearance at a medical conference at the FIFA congress in Zurich.
I welcome the probe into allegations of FIFA corruption and bribery, and support the FA's call for new leadership and reform.
