Members of soccer's world governing body, FIFA, will vote Today for their new
president amid a corruption scandal that has rocked the organization and led for calls for the dismissal of Sepp Blatter, its longtime leader.
The vote comes as the FIFA World Congress meets in Zurich, Switzerland, in unprecedented disarray.
Swiss authorities are investigating the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, while a U.S. investigation has led to the arrest of some of FIFA's leading officials on corruption charges. Amid calls for his dismissal Thursday, Blatter blamed allegations of widespread corruption within soccer's governing body on "a few" and called for those involved to be punished as FIFA works to rebuild its reputation.
His sole rival in the presidential contest is Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the candidate put forward by England's Football Association to challenge Blatter's 17-year reign over world soccer.
Opening the 65th FIFA World Congress on Friday,
Blatter called for the delegates gathered there to
follow the same principles as on the soccer field,
"discipline, respect and fair play." The delegates would have all day, rather than the 90 minutes players get, to do their work, he said, but working together they would achieve their aim.
He urged them to show the world that they could run FIFA together. "I wish you good deliberations in the spirit of fair play and respect," he concluded.

Secret ballot
Each of FIFA's 209 member associations has a vote in a secret ballot. A candidate needs two-thirds of the first ballot to be president if all members vote.
Blatter secured his 2011 re-election with 186 votes in his favor, out of 203. If there is no winner after the first vote, members cast ballots again, with only a majority of 105 needed
to win. Speaking on the eve of the vote, Blatter said the World Congress had an opportunity beginning Friday to start down "the long and difficult road to
rebuilding trust." "Let this be a turning point," Blatter said. "More
needs to be done to make sure everyone in football
acts responsibly and ethically."
He vowed to cooperate with authorities to ensure
those involved in wrongdoing are "discovered and
punished."
The 79-year-old's call for reform comes as a chorus of pundits, world leaders and European soccer's most important official have made clear what action they believe is necessary to clean up FIFA: Blatter must go. But while European members and the United States have voiced their desire for Blatter to stand down, he maintains the support of many other member associations.
The Asian Football Confederation said Thursday that
while it was disappointed by reports of corruption, it was ready to stand by Blatter and was against
delaying the presidential elections. The Asian Football Confederation has 46 voting members.
The Confederation of African Football said the same
in a statement Thursday. The CAF has 54 votes, and
as recently as last month had promised to support
Blatter unanimously.
The fact the ballot is secret may make the outcome of the vote more unpredictable. But FIFA, an autonomous body, has survived
numerous corruption scandals in the past and has
defiantly stood firm in the face of widespread
criticism of its decisions to hand Russia and Qatar
the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The body announced Friday that it would not hold a
press conference following the presidential vote,
meaning the winner will not face the media until
Saturday.

Make Blatter go him house now! Btw, wetin concern US with FIFA matters?