Sepp Blatter wins fifth FIFA term

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Image caption Sepp Blatter

Incumbent FIFA President Joseph Blatter won a fifth term at the head of the world football governing body in Zurich on Friday.

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It could have taken a second round of voting as Blatter failed to receive a two-thirds majority in the first round, claiming 133 votes against 73 for his presidential rival, Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan. But Prince Ali decided to withdraw before the proceedings of the second ballot.

The re-election comes as no real surprise despite the multi-million corruption scandal that hit the organisation on Wednesday, including the arrest of seven FIFA officials.

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Indeed, while his opponent could count on a strong support from the European nations, Blatter could rely on most of the rest of the world to extend his 17-year tenure as the most powerful man in world football.

Blatter's new term as FIFA President will run until 2019.