(ANSA) - Rome, May 29 - FIFA's Sepp Blatter made a final bid for re-election Friday as president of soccer's governing body despite a crippling corruption probe that has divided the football community.
Just before Friday's vote, Blatter said: "In recent days we have experienced a cataclysm...I launch an appeal for unity...now is time for discipline and fair play".
UEFA President Michel Platini on Thursday said he was "disgusted" by the FIFA corruption probe. "I'm disgusted, I can't take any more, it's too much...I'm an admirer of FIFA's history, I'm disgusted". He said UEFA would cast its vote for incumbent Blatter's rival Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan Friday.
Platini added that he had suggested to Blatter step down, but Blatter replied "it's too late".
Meanwhile, Italian Soccer Federation chief Carlo Tavecchio said Thursday he would follow UEFA's line in voting for the Jordanian candidate.
And British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday said Blatter should quit amid a major corruption probe that has hit world soccer's governing body. There have been widespread calls for Blatter to consider his position, although he is not under investigation by US authorities.
The FBI corruption probe that led to the arrest of seven senior FIFA officials in Zurich on Wednesday is a clear attempt to prevent the re-election of Sepp Blatter as president of international soccer's governing body, Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted by Tass news agency as saying Thursday. Blatter has come under strong pressure to resign as FIFA president in light of the arrests, even as he is hoping to win a fifth mandate at elections scheduled for Friday. Putin claimed pressure had been exerted on the Swiss official to boycott the 2018 World Cup, which is to be held in Russia. Two FIFA vice-presidents are among those arrested on Wednesday pending extradition to the United States in relation to the FBI corruption probe. They are among 14 indicted on graft charges in relation to alleged involvement on bribes of around $100 million over two decades. Meanwhile, Swiss prosecutors announced they had launched a separate investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, with the latter allocated to Qatar.
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