Sports: Blatter To Stand For A Fifth, Four-Year Term As FIFA President

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he will confirm later this month that he’ll stand for a fifth, four-year term. The 78-year-old had pledged before his re-election in 2011 that his current term would be his last. But buoyed by a successful World Cup in Brazil and UEFA president Michel Platini opting not to stand in next year’s election, Blatter believes he has the backing of national associations. In a pre-recorded interview, Blatter says he will make an “official declaration definitely in September now when we have the executive committee.” The committee meets on September 25-26. Blatter says he has waited until then “to say then to the football family, ‘Yes I will be ready. I will be a candidate."’ Meanwhile, Blatter wants to test the use of video replays in matches by next year. Speaking at the SoccerEx conference in a pre-recorded video, Blatter says he wants TV replays used in a domestic league and at the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015. Blatter says “we could test such challenge calls.” Coaches would have the right once or twice in each half to challenge a refereeing decision. Blatter has portrayed himself as a champion of technology since reversing his opposition to goal-line aids, which were used at the World Cup in Brazil for the first time. Also, FIFA has offered January and November in 2022 as alternative kickoff dates for the World Cup in Qatar. FIFA says it presented the two options Monday when its consultation group first met to seek alternatives to the desert heat of June-July. However, the January-February tournament option probably could not happen if the 2022 Winter Olympics are scheduled in the traditional February slot. IOC president Thomas Bach has already said Blatter assured him the two events would not clash. FIFA says the consultation group - including clubs, leagues, players’ unions and Qatari organizing committee leader Hassan al-Thawadi - will meet again in November. A further meeting is expected in February. FIFA’s executive committee should confirm the 2022 World Cup dates at its meeting in March in Zurich. Originally published as Blatter: 2022 in January or November