Sepp Blatter Refuses To Resign As FIFA President Despite Plea From UEFA's Michel Platini

Following the shocking allegations of long-term corruption which
surfaced on Wednesday after an FBI-led investigation indicted 14
people, including nine FIFA officials, the FIFA presidential election
is to go ahead as planned on Friday.

However on Thursday, Blatter first held an emergency meeting with FIFA
officials and then met Platini separately.

The head of UEFA, who have revealed that the majority of their member
nations have pledged their support to Prince Ali of Jordan in Friday's
presidential election in Zurich, urged Blatter to quit but is believed
the 79-year-old refused to step down as FIFA's main man despite the
latest damaging allegations of corruption.

Blatter is widely expected to win the election on Friday as the man
who has been in charge of world soccer's governing body since 1998
will secure a fifth-term in change.

In UEFA's press conference on Thursday in Zurich, Platini revealed
that he was "absolutely sickened" by the latest scandal to rock world
soccer's governing body and that he pleaded with Blatter to resign.
Platini then said FIFA's president gave him this answer:

"I can't leave, the congress is starting today and it is too late,"
said Blatter.

Blatter has the backing of the CAF, African soccer's governing body,
and the Asian Football Confederation as he needs just 105 votes from
the 209 member associations to secure a fifth four-year term in
charge.

Platini revealed that UEFA's members, which consist of 54
associations, would be supporting Prince Ali of Jordan but with CAF
and AFC making up 103 of the 105 votes need for a majority, Blatter is
highly likely to win Friday's election. Platini also revealed in his
press conference that he is not expecting to be part of the FBI's
investigation into alleged corruption by FIFA officials, or the Swiss
authorities launching a separate investigation into the awarding of
the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. Platini
previously voted for Qatar to get the 2022 World Cup and was heavily
criticized when it was revealed his son has landed a job at a Qatari
sports company.

If Blatter does win Friday's election, Platini revealed that UEFA is
"open to all options" after being asked if European soccer's governing
body is willing to walk away from FIFA if Blatter is re-elected.

"People have had enough," Platini said. "They don't want this
president anymore."