FIFA's Platini says Blatter must go

(AGI) Rome, May 28 - Everyone is against FIFA president SeppBlatter, who will not leave his post. Everyone, that is, exceptfor Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the opening of theFIFA congress to take place in Zurich on Friday, it will bedecided by secret vote if Blatter will be given a fifth mandateor will be replaced by Jordan prince Ali bin al Hussein. Thepresident of FIFA remarked that he could not monitor everyoneall the time, because whoever wants to do wrong will also tryto hide it. Hence, it was an indirect way to make hiscandidature for a fifth mandate, hoping that this FIFA congresswill be 'a new phase'. The 79-year-old Blatter admitted thatFIFA is experiencing times of unprecedented hardship due to thecorruption investigation, and said that 'more bad news willfollow' caused by the bad behaviour of some people who havebrought humiliation and shame on football. "Football, the fans,the players, the clubs, the world, deserve so much more. And wemust respond tomorrow," said Blatter, underlining that FIFAmust regain a good reputation. "Tomorrow, the congress, we havethe opportunity to begin on what will be a long and difficultroad to rebuilding trust. We have lost their trust, at least apart of it, and we must now earn it back. We must earn it backthrough the decisions we make, through the expectations weplace on each other and through the way we behaveindividually." He added, "More needs to be done to make sureeveryone in football behaves responsibly and ethically." UEFAPresident Michel Platini is against Blatter and said he is'disgusted' by the scandal and explained that he and thepresidents of the other five confederations asked in vain for'his friend' to resign during the meeting held in Zurich. Theformer player of Juventus said that changing FIFA's presidentis the only way to save the federation. He added that at least45 or 46 European federations out of the 53 will vote againstBlatter, and among them will be the Italian one. Platini saidthe president of FGCI, Carlo Tavecchio, confirmed that Italycannot disregard the recommendation of Platini, which hasgained the consensus of UEFA. Russian President Vladimir Putinhas maintained a strong stance against the Americaninvestigation on the alleged payolas. Putin defined the arrestof the seven FIFA executives in Zurich as 'strange.' Putinmaintains that it is an attempt by the U.S. to extend theirjurisdiction over other countries. The leader of the Kremlinsaid the U.S. is behaving as with their 'enemies' like Assangeand Snowden. Putin said it is clear to him that the wholematter is an attempt to block the re-election of Blatter, andrevoke the World Cup granted to Russia, which is scheduled totake place in 2018. European governments are also increasinglytaking a tougher stance against the re-election. UK PrimeMinister David Cameron called for Blatter's resignation, andForeign Minister Philip Hammond said that there is somethingprofoundly wrong at the very heart of FIFA. The Frenchgovernment asked for a postponement of the vote, claiming thescandal is giving a 'disastrous image' to football. (AGI). .