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Sepp Blatter re-elected as FIFA’s president

ZURICH (NEWS1130) – Sepp Blatter has been re-elected as FIFA president for a fifth term, chosen to lead world soccer despite separate U.S. and Swiss criminal investigations into corruption.

The 209 FIFA member federations gave the 79-year-old Blatter another four-year term on Friday after Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan conceded defeat after losing 133-73 in the first round.

There were three spoiled ballots.

Blatter, 79, spoke after the vote in Zurich:

“I thank you that you accepted me for the next four years. I will be in command of this boat called FIFA. I will bring it back,” he said.

Prince Ali’s promise of a clean break from FIFA’s tarnished recent history was rejected despite the worst scandal in the organization’s 111-year history.

There had been calls for Blatter to resign ahead of today’s vote, but he has refused to take personal responsibility after several current and former members of FIFA were arrested on corruption and bribery charges.

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