After strong support by delegates from Africa and Asia yesterday, Blatter addressed a room full of UEFA members in São Paulo in hope of garnering more support for his re-election campaign for 2015.

What he faced, however, was a stinging rebuke from some of UEFA's top officials as they criticised his handling of the World Cup bid scandal, and denounced his attempts to run for a fifth term as President having claimed in 2011 that this term would be his last.

One such "grilling" came from the head of the Dutch Football Association, Michael van Praag, who directly challenged Blatter's decision during the meeting in Brazil.

"I took the floor [at the meeting] and I said [to Blatter]; 'This is nothing personal but if you look at the reputation FIFA has built over the last seven or eight years, with accusations of corruptions, bribery and all kinds of old-boys network things; FIFA has an executive President and that means you are responsible'," he said.

"You don't make it easy on yourself because you said Qatar [for the 2022 World Cup] was the wrong choice.

"All these problems occurred when you were President so I believe that you should not run any more"."

Dutch FA President Michael van Praag led a string of criticisms aimed at FIFA President Sepp Blatter over his decision to run for a fifth term at the helm of FIFA despite insisting his current term would be his last in 2011 ©VI Images via Getty Images



David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive and current member of the UEFA Executive Committee, was in agreement with van Praag, stating his "disappointment" at Blatter's decision to run yet again.

"I'm surprised," he started.

"I think the very fact that in 2011 he was clear that it was for four years, I think that should have been the situation.

"To see he has changed his mind is disappointing."

Asked whether Blatter should go, Gill then replied: "Personally, yes.

"I think we need to move on.

"But that's just my personal opinion.

"There are 209 countries voting for the new Ppresident.

"But if I was the chief executive and I had these allegations and these concerns, I wouldn't look at them negatively and blame people for bringing them forward.

"I think FIFA would benefit significantly from a change.

"If you look at what happened at the IOC, the IOC is now a much more respected organisation.'

English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke was highly critical of Sepp Blatter's handling of investigations relating to the FIFA World Cup corruption allegations ©Getty Images



Greg Dyke, chairman of the English FA was also highly critical of Blatter's handling of the World Cup corruption scandal, telling reporters after the meeting that he felt the way in which Blatter claimed racism was behind investigations, led by British newspaper The Sunday Times, was "totally unacceptable".

"I said [to Blatter]: 'Could I say that I regard the comments you made yesterday about the allegations in the British media in which you described them as racist as totally unacceptable.

"'I have read the articles in The Sunday Times in great detail, and the allegations being made have nothing to do with racism.

"'They are allegations about corruption within FIFA.

"'These allegations need to be properly investigated and properly answered.

"'Mr Blatter, many of us are deeply troubled by your reaction to these allegations.

"'It's time for FIFA to stop attacking the messenger and instead consider and understand the message.'"

Dyke claimed it was important to know whether FIFA's ethics investigator Michael Garcia, who has been analysing the corruption allegations for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, has had access to the files of documents obtained by The Sunday Times alleging corruption in the World Cup bids.

"We need to know from Mr Garcia tomorrow if he was aware of the material in The Sunday Times before it was published and, if not, whether he will now extend his investigation to consider these allegations," said Dyke.

Opposition from some of Europe's elite could prove futile in the grand scheme of things, however, with UEFA holding just 53 votes of the 209 in FIFA.

Reactions from other continents, namely Asia and Africa, have proved strongly in favour of the incumbent President, while the 11-nation Oceania regional body also pledged their support for Platter during a meeting prior to that of UEFA's.

"Rest assured, the 11 members in this room are the first in line," said Oceania leader and FIFA vice-president David Chung.

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