by Matthew Allen, swissinfo.ch

The net is closing on football’s world governing body following corruption claims and bans meted out ahead of Wednesday’s presidential election, campaigners say.
The latest fiasco has seen Mohamed bin Hammam suspended and forced to step down as the only challenger to incumbent President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter. The ruling followed claim and counter-claim of corruption during the campaign.

Bin Hammam’s departure paves the way for Blatter to win a fourth consecutive term as Fifa president this week. He has vowed to clean up the game from corruption after being cleared of wrongdoing by an ethics committee panel on Sunday.

Despite accusations and counter-accusations swirling around Fifa, Blatter was upbeat in speaking to reporters on Monday evening.

He said that Fifa would not investigate allegations from the English football association of foul practice during the World Cup 2018 and 2022 bids. He also refused to postpone Wednesday’s presidential election, saying it was up to Fifa’s congress whether to vote him in or not.

“I regret what has happened in the last few days and weeks, the great damage done to the image of Fifa and the disappointment of football fans,” he said.