FIFA boss Blatter plans global tour in re-election bid

ZURICH - Joseph Blatter has said he will embark on a global tour before seeking a fourth term as president of the ruling football body FIFA next June.

Blatter said Wednesday in a year-ending message on the FIFA website that he will visit voters at the congresses of all six FIFA confederations.

Blatter became FIFA president in 1998. He seeks re-election June 1, 2011, at the FIFA Congress in Zurich. So far no other candidate for the top job has come forward.

“I look forward to meeting the representatives of the member associations there in person, addressing their concerns and, together, setting a strategic course for the future so that FIFA can support its members in an even more targeted and needs-based manner,” he said.

“I hope that you will support me in my mission,” said Blatter, saying it was “time to focus our attention and efforts on the future … after such an eventful and exciting year”.

Blatter did not mention the corruption allegations and penalties imposed on FIFA executives, but recalled that South Africa hosted the first World Cup on the continent this year and that the election of Russia and Qatar as 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts followed a similar strategy.

“At FIFA, we will continue to pursue our goal of constantly developing football all over the world,” said Blatter.