D-DAY

FIFA President Wins Re-Election

Opponent withdraws.

Incumbent FIFA President Sepp Blatter won re-election Friday, when opponent Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan withdrew after receieving a clear minority in the first round of voting. Blatter received 133 votes, according to reports, out of the required 140 for a clear win. “I thank you that you accepted me,” Blatter said. “[F]or the next four years I will be in command of this boat and we will bring it back... to the shore.” The 79-year-old added that he will not rethink the awarded World Cup locations for 2018 and 2022, Russia and Qatar, because the tournament is “too important.” Blatter faced a tough re-election after the U.S. Justice Department’s unprecedented corruption investigation led to the arrest of 14 people tied to the organization. Some sports officials called for his resignation.