AFC to back Sepp Blatter in FIFA presidency election

Sepp Blatter will be contesting the elections for the fifth consecutive time

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 8 (IANS): The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will support Joseph "Sepp" Blatter in the FIFA presidential election on Thursday.

Despite having a competitor in Vice President, Prince Ali from the Confederation, General Secretary, Dato Alex Soosay chose to go for Blatter. Jordanian Prince Ali joined Frenchman Jerome Champagne to stand against the 78-year-old Blatter, who has been in the hot seat, since 1998. He will be seeking his fifth consecutive term as FIFA President.

Soosay said that AFC's members have agreed in principle to back Blatter, at their congress in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"And I think that sentiment still remains. But I'm not here to stop anyone from having their own rights. The election is independent and democratic," He added, "We made a pledge in the congress in Brazil that the entire Asian football family was supporting the FIFA president. As Asia we should also stay together and be united rather than divided."

Votes of AFC members are believed to be of prime importance, in deciding who will win the May elections in Zurich.