Blatter ready to stand for fifth term as Fifa president

[NewWorldRecord]

Blatter ready to stand for fifth term as Fifa president

By Kris Voakes
Feb 7, 2014 3:59:00 PM

The Swiss football chief, who has held the top position since 1998, has suggested he will run for another mandate in 2015.

Sepp Blatter says he is ready to stand for re-election as Fifa president in 2015, extending his stay at the top of the football ladder to five terms.

The 77-year-old Swiss was expected to step aside after his fourth mandate ended next year, but he has now said he is willing to run for a fifth term if he is approached by the world governing body's members.

"I'm in good health and I don't see why I should think about stopping work now," he told RTS on Friday. "If the member associations ask me to be a candidate I wouldn't say no."

Blatter was speaking in Sochi, where he is attending the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics as a member of the IOC. But the travel and workload involved in his role does not deter him from thinking of standing for a mandate which would take him will into his 80s.

"In terms of human rights, an age limit is discrimination," Blatter added.

The only person to announce his candidacy before now is Jerome Champagne, Blatter's former advisor, who unveiled his bid for the presidency at a press conference in London in January.

However, Champagne admitted he doesn't feel he can beat the Swiss if the current president runs once more.

"Frankly I don't know if Mr Blatter will run or not," he said at his candidacy launch. "Do I think I can beat him? No, I don't think so. He is somebody of great relevance."

Blatter his expected to formally give his decision over re-election at Fifa Congress in Sao Paulo on June 10.