South America backs Blatter for four more years

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is confident of winning another four-year term as the organisation’s chief.

Blatter’s leadership is being challenged by Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam, with the election on June 1.

Speaking from the Paraguay headquarters of CONMEBOL – the South American Football Confederation – the 75-year-old Swiss national said he was positive his proven track record in control of FIFA would see him at the helm for another term.

“Sure, I’m confident. I don’t need to make a lot of promises,” Blatter told Reuters.

“I’m not interested in what he (bin Hammam) is doing. I have my programme, it’s 36 years I’ve been serving FIFA.”

“(Bin Hammam) came into the FIFA executive committee in 1996, so he was part of the construction of today’s FIFA. You need to ask him why he wants to change that construction.”

Blatter, who was in the region to gather support for his bid, said he would be able to count on the support of South American football chiefs, insisting the mood in the region had not changed much since his election to the role in 1998.

“It was CONMEBOL that already in January or February 1998 made a declaration that the 10 countries of CONMEBOL were fully behind Sepp Blatter,” he said.

“Therefore, I’m fully confident that they are still in the same mood. I don’t know why they shouldn’t be.”

Argentine football boss Julio Grondona confirmed the region was behind Blatter.

“South America is unanimously and resoundingly committed to supporting the candidacy of Joseph Blatter for another period as president of FIFA, there’s no doubt in this regard,” Grondona said.

“That’s how we started in 1998 and that’s how we want to continue for the good of world football.”