Dutch football chief against Blatter new term

Michael van Praag, chairman of the Dutch national football association Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB), has spoken of his opposition to the possible re-election of Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA. The 78-year-old Swiss, who assumed office in 1998, is said to be seeking re-election next year. According to Van Praag, Blatter is ultimately responsible for the deteriorating image and reputation of FIFA, especially amid renewed claims of corruption in Qatar’s successful contest to host the 2022 World Cup. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are firmly against re-electing the incumbent president and are said to be planning to put up a candidate to fight Blatter; a move that appears to have great support from its member football associations. Van Praag is a supposed favourite, alongside German FA president Wolfgang Niersbach, to stand for the election should UEFA-chief Michel Platini opt out of the contest. The KNVB chairman had voted for Blatter in the last elections but now believes that “criticism should fall heavily on him."