FIFA Update – Former Adviser Says Blatter Could Stay On As President, But FIFA Insist He Won't

By Christian Radnedge

FIFA president Sepp Blatter could perform an extraordinary U-turn and remain in charge of world football’s governing body, according to his former official adviser.

Klaus Stohlker worked for Blatter during the recent election campaign and told Sky News that despite his decision two weeks ago to stand down, the Swiss could be tempted to stay on as president.

Blatter’s resignation came amid the dramatic crisis engulfing FIFA which includes respective investigations by US and Swiss authorities.

But Stohlker said that the president could be persuaded by FIFA members to run again.

“At the moment there is not a convincing candidate to replace Mr Blatter with the same level of qualifications, of languages, of contacts, and knowledge of football,” he said.

“As long as there is not such a candidate it remains open for Sepp Blatter to run again.

“There are some people that are asking him not to stand for the next election, there are some people that are asking him not to resign.

“There is a huge game going on for control of FIFA and the president is in a situation where he is making his opinion about what to do.”

Stohlker stressed that he was not an official spokesperson – something which FIFA itself pointed to in a statement released on Monday.

The statement said: “Klaus Stöhlker's mandate from the FIFA President ended on 31 May 2015. The FIFA President would like to point to his remarks from 2 June.”

Reports circulated at the weekend that Blatter may wish to reverse his decision.

Those stories were met with a quick response by Domenico Scala, the chairman of FIFA's audit and compliance committee, who said it was imperative the president continue with the proposed plan.

“For me, the reforms are the central topic,” he said.

“That is why I think it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of the president's change as has been announced.”

That process is scheduled to culminate in an extraordinary congress held between December and March 2016.

Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan signalled he would stand again if enough countries wanted him to, despite his loss to Blatter in the May election in Zurich.

Though he may face a challenge from UEFA president Michel Platini