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               FIFA President Calls for Unity in Face of Scandal

   by VOA News

   FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called for unity among members of
   football's governing body and promised to work to overcome the group's
   corruption scandal if he is re-elected.

   Blatter spoke at the 65^th FIFA annual congress in Zurich, Switzerland,
   where members will vote Friday on whether he will get another term as
   president. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan is challenging him.

   Blatter said the arrest of seven top football officials gathering for
   the congress on Wednesday has "unleashed a storm," but he said he is
   "appealing for unity and the team spirit" so FIFA can move forward.

   On Thursday, Blatter has said the federation faces "more bad news" and
   the next few months will not be easy for FIFA, but "it is necessary to
   begin to restore trust" in it.

   "We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged
   through the mud any longer.  It has to stop here," he said.

   Two major European football associations called on Blatter to resign,
   before FIFA presidential elections on Friday, but Blatter has refused.

   The president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA),
   French football legend Michel Platini, spoke openly about the FIFA
   scandal and took issue with Blatter's refusal to resign.

   "We went to his office and I renewed my advice to him to go and that he
   should resign," he said. "That he should realize the moment was not a
   good one and to have the courage, honesty and grandeur to realize that
   it was not good."

   According to Platini, Blatter refused, arguing that it was too late,
   since the electing congress was about to start.

   The German Football Association (DFB) has also demanded Blatter's
   resignation, citing the credibility issue with him.

   "It is time for a change, definitely and that it is not a question of
   whether Blatter is guilty or not guilty," DFB president Wolfgang
   Niersbach said.  "It is time for change because we need FIFA as an
   institution with credibility and that is difficult, maybe impossible
   without a change at the top," he added.

   U.S. Justice Department unveiled an indictment Wednesday charging 14
   people with offenses that include racketeering, wire fraud and money
   laundering.  The U.S. investigation stretches back to 1991 with
   allegations that include sports media executives paying or agreeing to
   pay $150 million in bribes in exchange for marketing rights to
   tournaments, as well as corruption related to the 2011 FIFA
   presidential election and the sponsorship of Brazil's soccer federation
   by a U.S. sportswear company.

   Swiss authorities also unveiled a separate investigation into
   allegations of mismanagement and money laundering connected to the
   awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/fifa-president-calls-for-unity-in-face-of-scandal/2797064.html