Sepp Blatter wins re-election as FIFA president after Prince Ali withdraws

Martin Rogers | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Sepp Blatter re-elected amid FIFA turmoil Martin Rogers of USA TODAY Sports discusses how Blatter again beat his competition to win a fifth term despite corruption allegations.

Sepp Blatter retained his position as the most powerful figure in soccer Friday, winning re-election as FIFA's president and a fifth term when his only competition, Prince Ali bin al-Hussain, withdrew from consideration after the first ballot.

The election was forced to a second vote after Blatter failed to gain a two-thirds majority in the initial phase. The first ballot was conducted with 133 votes going to Blatter, 73 to Prince Ali and three being invalid. Each of FIFA's 209 member associations gets a single vote.

However, Prince Ali announced before the second vote that he was stepping aside.

"I like you, I like my job," Blatter said to cheering voters. "I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure."

Until Wednesday, when United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch released details of a 47-count indictment against 14 people either senior members of, or linked to FIFA, Blatter was considered a lock to win the vote.

However, that was cast into doubt in the hours leading up to the election, as first European governing body UEFA, then U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, came out in public support of Prince Ali.

UEFA chief Michel Platini was spotted lobbying influential Asian confederation chiefs late into the Zurich night and into the early hours of Friday morning.

Yet Blatter's core support came through, and although the ballot was conducted in secret, as per FIFA regulations, it is likely he maintained near-unanimous backing in his strongholds of Africa and Asia. Africa held 54 votes, Asia 46. Either contender needed 105 to win.

Before the second round started, Prince Ali stood before the congress and conceded.

"I want to thank all of you who were brave enough to support me," said the prince, who previously spoke of a culture of intimidation at FIFA. "It's been a wonderful journey in terms of knowing you, working with you."

Blatter, 79, was not mentioned in the case led by Lynch, on behalf of the Department of Justice and in conjunction with the FBI and IRS, though his past will be scrutinized as the investigation continues.

Once again, however, the czar of soccer politics has survived a crisis – at least for now. Public opinion and even some of his former supporters have turned against him, but as ever, Blatter carries on, seemingly unbothered by the storm of controversy he inevitably creates.

Until and unless there are further, more damning revelations about FIFA that implicate Blatter, soccer's self-styled godfather will remain at the top table, much to the dismay of those hoping for a clear out and cleanup of the sport that calls itself the beautiful game.

Contributing: The Associated Press