Vowing to fight corruption, absolving himself of responsibility and calling on FIFA's members to help rebuild trust, FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke in general terms about the Wednesday arrests of FIFA members following a probe by the U.S. Justice Department.

In his welcome speech on Thursday to the 65th FIFA Congress ahead of Friday's presidential election, Blatter spoke publicly for the first time since the corruption scandals threw FIFA into crisis.

"I know many people hold me responsible. We, I, cannot monitor everyone all the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it," Blatter said

"Those who are corrupt in football are in a minority, like in society and must be held responsible for their actions. Football cannot be the exception to the rule. There can be no place for corruption of any kind."

The FIFA president did not respond to questions asking why he has not resigned after American and Swiss federal corruption investigations rocked world football on Wednesday.

Blatter defied a face-to-face demand on Thursday from FIFA vice president Michel Platini to resign ahead of Friday's presidential election. The 209 presidents of FIFA's member federations will vote after UEFA announced on Thursday it would not boycott the congress.

Instead, the 79-year-old FIFA chief will go ahead to a contest against Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan. Platini has pledged UEFA's backing for Prince Ali.

"We must respond tomorrow," Blatter said of the election. "We have the opportunity to begin the long and difficult road to rebuilding trust. We have lost the trust and we must now earn it back. Solidarity and unity is asked for the game, for the world, for peace."