Blatter calls for ‘unity’ at FIFA, as vote goes to second round

The fate of world soccer boss Sepp Blatter remained at stake Friday, as a vote over his future as president at FIFA went to a second round.

The under-fire head of the game's governing body is still expected to be re-elected, but was forced into a subsequent ballot after failing to win a two-thirds majority. His challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein won 73 votes in the first round, some 60 short of Blatter. A second vote will be decided on a simple majority.

The ballot comes amid an unprecedented crisis at FIFA, with has led to growing calls for Blatter to step down in the face of corruption scandals. 

Addressing FIFA delegates at the body's annual congress in Switzerland, where members will later vote to decide the organization's presidency, Blatter promised more transparency and urged members to remain unified.

He also said that FIFA would probably not be facing its present problems if Russia and Qatar had not been awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

“Today, I am appealing to unity and team spirit so we can move forward together,” he said, in a low key-address that contrasted with his more defiant reaction on Thursday.

Blatter also sought to distance himself from the scandal, the biggest crisis FIFA has faced in its 111-year history.

On Wednesday, U.S. authorities indicted 14 people on bribery, racketeering, fraud and money-laundering charges going back to the 1990s. Seven of the officials -- including two serving FIFA vice presidents — were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday ahead of the congress.

The two criminal investigations have cast a new shadow on Blatter's 17-year reign as president of FIFA. The 209 FIFA member nations will decide later Friday whether to stick with the 79-year-old Blatter or vote for Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, 39, of Jordan.

Amid the dramatic build up to the election, European federation president Michel Platini appealed to Blatter to immediately step down — calls the president has rejected.

“I am willing to accept the president of FIFA is responsible for everything but I would at least like to share that responsibility with everyone,” Blatter said in a presidential address on Friday morning. “We cannot constantly supervise everyone in football ... you cannot ask everyone to behave ethically.”

Blatter's opening address to the congress was briefly disrupted by a pro-Palestinian activist, who held up a red card and shouted “Red card to racism.” The protest was to draw attention to a campaign that aims to stop Palestinian players from being detained by Israeli security forces.

But hours later, the Palestinian Football Association — which had called for suspending Israel from FIFA — decided to drop its bid to do so.

After calling for security, Blatter announced: “I would ask you to please check the access points of this room.”

Meanwhile, Britain's Serious Fraud Office said on Friday it was examining information relating to possible corruption at FIFA.

“The SFO continues actively to assess material in its possession and has made plain that it stands ready to assist ongoing international criminal investigations,” a spokesman said.

The SFO has not launched a formal criminal investigation.      

Also on Friday, Swiss police said a bomb threat has been made against the venue where the FIFA congress is being held. Zurich city police spokesman Peter Sahli says a police operation is ongoing but declined to provide further details.

An AP reporter at the scene said the Hallenstadion's concert hall auditorium was cleared but the building itself was not evacuated.

FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke said “an anonymous threat against the FIFA congress was received.” The meeting then resumed after lunch. 

Wire services