Football
9y

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter welcomes Prince Ali election challenge

GENEVA -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter has welcomed his election rival Prince Ali bin Al Hussein's challenge as good for debate.

Blatter told Swiss daily Le Matin: "I can only be happy with this candidature."

The 78-year-old Blatter, who is strongly favored to get a fifth mandate in the May 29 election, said "we are in a democracy and this can only be beneficial for debate."

Blatter was reelected unopposed in 2011 after intended opponent Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar was implicated in bribing voters, and said it is better to win a contest.

Quoting a French saying, Blatter said: "don't we say that winning without danger is triumph without glory?"

The 39-year-old prince of Jordan, a FIFA vice president, said the governing body needs to change and focus on football instead of controversy.

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