Blatter warns presidential rival to keep it clean (17.03.2002)
Sepp Blatter has called for a clean fight after African Football Confederation (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou announced that he would challenge for the Fifa presidency this summer.
"Football is a combative sport, but it is sport with fair play. I ask only that fair play is respected during this election," said the Swiss incumbent, whose successful election in 1998 was beset by allegations of bribery and vote-buying.
Hayatou, 55, will challenge Blatter on May 29 in Seoul. "If I become president, then my office will be transparent and open," he said.
"You can look at the books of CAF right now and see all the information you want. I believe it should be the same at Fifa. Mr Blatter has done some good things for football but now I believe the time has come for change."
Blatter nonetheless looks assured of reelection with the backing of 112
of the 204 national associations.
Hayatou has the support of Uefa and Chung Mong-joon, the powerful head of the Asian confederation, but does not have unanimous support in Africa.
Uefa chief Lennart Johansson, beaten by Blatter four years ago, has thrown his weight behind Hayatou`s bid. He said: "I give him my full support and I sincerely hope he has a victory."
Blatter has denied allegations of bribery in his 1998 election campaign, but was forced into an embarrassing U-turn to set up an inquiry into into Fifa`s finances.
The president has been heavily criticised for his handling of the collapse of Fifa`s marketing partners, ISL, at a cost of around £45 million.
Hayatou, who has been CAF president since 1988, was one of 13 executive committee members who demanded an investigation into the losses suffered by Fifa.
