Soccer: Blatter under fire from UEFA chief

UEFA president Lenart Johansson has warned Europe’s footballing nations they could face a bleak future if his FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter is re-elected.

Blatter is hoping to win a second four-year term in office but Johansson believes another victory could see the European game marginalised.

Blatter faces competition from Cameroon’s Issa Hayatou and Johansson has written to all 51 UEFA member associations hoping to swing support behind the new challenger.

The Daily Mail quotes Johansson saying: ‘‘I have worked hard to ensure that Europe plays a proper role within FIFA.

‘‘However, it is my duty to inform you that this has become increasingly difficult due to the behaviour and actions of the current president.

‘‘Mr Blatter has adopted an increasingly hostile and confrontational approach to Europe and provoked conflicts which are neither necessary nor in the best interests of FIFA.

‘‘For me, this cannot go on, and yet Mr Blatter’s actions and words have suggested more confrontation and further efforts to undermine Europe’s position in world football.’’

Johansson is not the first to question Blatter’s integrity in the build-up to next week’s vote in Seoul.

Blatter unilaterally suspended the audit committee probing the state of the world governing body’s finances following the collapse of marketing partner ISL.

FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen accused Blatter of acting only to cover up financial impropriety for which he believes the president is responsible.

Johansson has also accused Blatter of misusing the ‘Goal’ programme, set up to fund developing football countries.

Johansson said: ‘‘The president has turned the programmes into a political weapon in order to ensure support for his ambitions.

‘‘He declared that he wants to be judged on his track record. We should all be prepared to do exactly that and to be aware of what a further term of office might bring.’’