Switzerland's Sepp Blatter has been re-elected as world
football's governing body's president in an uncontested
election.
Blatter, who became president in 1998, said his new tenure,
which began at the 57th annual FIFA congress here on Thursday,
showed that the world of football had confidence in him.
"I'm happy to win this election as the only candidate and it
shows the football world has confidence in me," he said. Referring
to former alleged corruption within FIFA, he added: "To bring up
old stories, that's not good.
"But from now on you can hit out at me as you wish."
He added that he was still favoured rotating the World Cup
finals among the continents and said women's football would get
bigger and bigger.
When asked why there were no women on FIFA's powerful executive
committee, Blatter said: "It's not a good situation but remember
the members are elected by the confederations. All we could do is
create a place reserved for a women."
FIFA executive committee following FIFA Congress
President: Jospeh Blatter (SUI)
Vice-presidents: Julio Grondona (ARG), Issa Hayatou (CMR), Mong
Joon Chung (KOR), Jack Warner (TRI), Angel Maria Villar Llona
(ESP), Michel Platini (FRA), Reynald Temarii (TAH), Geoff Thompson
(ENG)
Members: Michel D'Hooghe (BEL), Ricardo Teixeira (BRA), Mohamed
Bin Hammam (QAT), Senes Erzik (TUR), Chuck Blazer (USA), Worawi
Makudi (THA), Nicolas Leoz (PAR), Viacheslav Koloskov (RUS), Junji
Ogura (JPN), Slim Chiboub (TUN), Amos Adamu (NGR), Marios
Lefkaritis (CYP), Jacques Anouma (CIV), Franz Beckenbauer (GER),
Rafael Salguero (GUA)
General secretary: Urs Linsi (SUI)
(CRIENGLISH.com via AFP June 1, 2007)