Sepp Blatter gained 133 votes to Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein’s 73 in the first round of voting, not enough to secure a two-thirds majority, but the challenger conceded defeat
Summary
Deep down, we all knew it was coming didn’t we: Blatter will remain Fifa president for the next four years, after which he will step down. Blatter’s opponents, including Prince Ali and David Gill – who will now reliquish the Fifa vice presidency he was awarded just a few hours ago – have been squashed. The Swiss reigns supreme.
Sepp Blatter has been officially re-elected as Fifa’s president for a fifth term by the world governing body’s 209 member associations.
Blatter, 79, saw off the challenge of Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein at Fifa’s annual Congress in Zurich. In a secret ballot he was re-elected with 133 votes from the 209 voting members. The process was to go to a second round of voting, after Blatter failed to get the 139 votes needed in the first round to win; a two-thirds majority was necessary. Blatter received 133 votes Prince Ali 73 and three ballots were spoiled. However, Prince Ali conceded before the second round of voting took place – when a simple majority would have been enough for either contender to win.
Prince Ali makes a brief speech to the crowd.
I just wanted to thank all of you. It’s been a wonderful journey. I want to especially thank all of you who were brave enough to vote for me.
He leaves the stage, and is hugged and embraced by a number of officials, including Michel Platini.
Prince Ali has withdrawn! Sepp Blatter is confirmed as Fifa president (again)!
No second round of voting is required.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g)May 29, 2015
79-year-old Sepp Blatter wins a fifth term as Fifa president.
We will have a second round of voting! Blatter gains 133 votes to Prince Ali’s 73: not enough for a two-third majority
Of the 209 votes, three were spoiled, and so only 206 counted. A simple majority is required in the second round. If the votes stay the same in this round, Blatter will remain president of Fifa for the next four years, he now needs just 105 of the votes to win.
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