RIYADH - Fifa president Sepp Blatter will spend time in Saudi Arabia this week hoping to drum up support for his bid to be re-elected to a fourth mandate.
RIYADH - Fifa president Sepp Blatter will spend time in Saudi Arabia this week hoping to drum up support for his bid to be re-elected to a fourth mandate.
"I know very well that the best way to win Arab support for my candidature is to come to Saudi Arabia," said Blatter, the president of football's world ruling body.
"It is a powerful and influential country in every domain, including sport. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries from whom I will be looking for support."
Blatter, first elected in 1998, is in his third term as president of Fifa and hopes to be re-elected in June 2011.
He is expected to be opposed by France's Michel Platini, the Uefa chief, and Qatar's Mohammed Bin Hammam.
Prince Sultan Ben Fahd Ben Abdel Aziz, president of the Saudi Football Federation, reacted with prudence.
"It's normal for each candidate to consult with friends around the world and win their support, but for the (Saudi) kingdom it is still too early to be talking about this," he said. - Sapa-AFP
Blatter on the campaign trail in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH - Fifa president Sepp Blatter will spend time in Saudi Arabia this week hoping to drum up support for his bid to be re-elected to a fourth mandate.
RIYADH - Fifa president Sepp Blatter will spend time in Saudi Arabia this week hoping to drum up support for his bid to be re-elected to a fourth mandate.
"I know very well that the best way to win Arab support for my candidature is to come to Saudi Arabia," said Blatter, the president of football's world ruling body.
"It is a powerful and influential country in every domain, including sport. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries from whom I will be looking for support."
Blatter, first elected in 1998, is in his third term as president of Fifa and hopes to be re-elected in June 2011.
He is expected to be opposed by France's Michel Platini, the Uefa chief, and Qatar's Mohammed Bin Hammam.
Prince Sultan Ben Fahd Ben Abdel Aziz, president of the Saudi Football Federation, reacted with prudence.
"It's normal for each candidate to consult with friends around the world and win their support, but for the (Saudi) kingdom it is still too early to be talking about this," he said. - Sapa-AFP