No spin doctors, no campaign manager and no flashy slogans — Sepp Blatter isn’t even going to bother campaigning.
Blatter is a huge favorite to retain his seat at the top of world football — and that’s without any plans to launch a campaign, according to a source close to the FIFA president.
The Swiss, who has kept a low-profile ahead of FIFA’s presidential election on May 29 in Zurich, doesn’t believe he needs to campaign to ensure victory.
At the moment, he is yet to launch any kind of program, manifesto nor appoint any staff to his campaign.
The source close to Blatter said the incumbent may make some moves in early May but that he may not bother at all and instead attempt to keep out of the limelight.
Last month FIFA did not respond to CNN’s questions as to how Blatter was funding his re-election campaign.
The 79-year-old remains a huge favorite to win the contest when he goes up against three challengers for the presidency.
He is hosting FIFA’s executive committee meeting Thursday and Friday where the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be confirmed.
FIFA’s image has been tarnished during Blatter’s reign with the organization hit by several scandals.
The latest, which involved allegations of corruption surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, rocked the organization.
Luis Figo, the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Portugal star, Jordanian royal Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and Dutchman Michael van Praag are all hoping to become the new leader of world football.
The trio have been campaigning and putting forward their plans and visions for the future while Blatter has yet to make a move in an official campaigning capacity.
Blatter rejected the opportunity to take part in a televised debate with his opponents which been proposed by British broadcasters BBC and Sky.
The invitation was rejected because Blatter did not see the benefit of the debate but he will continue to speak with journalists outside of such a setting.
Prince Ali said he was disappointed with Blatter’s decision and saw it as a missed opportunity.
“I believe that this election campaign is an opportunity for an open and mature debate about the future direction of FIFA and all four candidates have a responsibility to football to engage in this debate,” he said.
“The broadcasters initiative is a good one and should be supported.”
Figo also echoed those sentiments, adding: “I think it is a pity. We owe it to the fans of football to hold this debate with all four candidates.
“It would have been good for all FIFA Member Associations and for the fans of football to hold this debate with all four candidates, but I will nevertheless continue to promote my ideas, which are in favor of reform, transparency and, first and foremost, for football.
“I respect and all candidates and their proposals and their freedom to decide even if I do not agree with some of them.”
The Swiss spoke with the press at the International Football Association Board Meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland, last month.
Blatter, who was elected in 1998, is expected to attend the UEFA congress in Vienna next week, where he will speak to the European Football Associations in his role as president of FIFA.
His presidential opponents are also expected to speak but there are no plans to have a debate.
Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s general secretary, has reminded “all Fifa staff members that they, consultants or any other persons appointed by or working for FIFA are not permitted to take part in any way in these election campaigns”.
In an interview with CNN in January, Blatter said UEFA was lacking courage to challenge him.
“They want to get rid of me,” he told CNN.
“All this opposition is coming now it’s unfortunate to say it, it’s coming from Nyon, from UEFA.
“They don’t have the courage to come in. “So let me go (on) – be respectful! Because in football you learn to win but you also learn to lose. So I’m going now. If I win the better, if I lose ok!
“I have been asked by the national associations to be our candidate again because nobody that is strong was in. So I go there,” he said.
He also appears to be relishing the fight ahead, despite having celebrated his 79th birthday earlier this month.
“I’m now 40 years in FIFA. I’ve been the president since 1998.
“You know it is impossible to make everybody happy.
“If I would have only positive press then it would not be good. And I like criticism as long as the criticism is… I would say fair criticism. I like the discussion to go with that. But listen I’ve been there such a long time now and I just want to finish that,” he added.
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