Blatter gains support, faces opposition, after Congress

MUNICH, June 8: Sepp Blatter led world soccer towards a more streamlined and transparent future, free of corruption, today when the 56th FIFA Congress backed his Task Force's package of modernisation and clean-up plans.

However, while the creation of a new Ethics Committee was fairly straightforward the controversial proposal to cut the number of teams in Europe's professional leagues to 18 ran into immediate opposition from the English Premier League.

As Blatter marched through a day of heavy business, which saw the adoption of moves aimed at giving FIFA tighter control over the administration of the world game at all levels, the 205 voting members of Congress supported him all the way.

Blatter, 70, who even suggested that the world governing body may decide to launch its own television channel, ended the day by confirming he will stand for re-election as president again at next year's elections in Zurich.

He would be bidding for a third term backed by a budget surplus of 400 million dollars with a plan to increase that to 0 million by 2010, as passed by the Congress.

As well as the budget report, which said FIFA will operate in dollars instead of Swiss francs from the start of 2007, the Congress adopted motions from the Task Force covering a range of political, financial and sporting issues.

These included a standard partnership between football associations and public authorities by the end of 2006, a worldwide club licensing system within five years and tighter controls on the ownership, control and influence of clubs.

The proposals also covered a computerised 'transfer contract matching system' before 2008-09, improved controls of players' agents for increased transparency before 2007-08 and a worldwide early-warning system on gambling and betting.

The most challenging motions passed came from the Task Force working group for competitions -- the cutting of leagues to 18 clubs by 2007-08, coordination of confederations' competitions and an insurance mechanism for players called up by their countries.

The top European leagues, with 20 clubs, in France, Italy, England and Spain, are all expected to fight FIFA's plans.

A spokesman for the English Premier League said: ''The only people who will change the composition of the Premier League are the 20 club chairmen and they are not going to do it.'' All of the motions passed at Congress empowered the FIFA executive committee to carry out their proposals in due course -- and, in some cases, to interpret their intentions.

The creation of an independent 18-man Ethics Committee, to be governed by the FIFA Code of Ethics and chaired by a lawyer, means the former Committee for Ethics and Fair Play was replaced by a new Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility.

''Thank you all,'' said Blatter. ''We now have a new code of ethics at FIFA.'' The warm support for that move was not matched later when he said he planned to the cut the size of the major leagues.

''I am not worried, but we shall do it,'' he said. ''And in the end everyone will be happy.''

REUTERS