Blatter challenges critics to ‘take the risk’ and oppose him in FIFA election
ULRICHEN, Switzerland – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has challenged his critics to “take the risk” and stand for election against him next year.
Blatter told reporters Saturday: “Don’t speak — go out and fight, then you will see.”
The FIFA leader did not identify potential rivals in the ballot scheduled in May, though he appeared to target UEFA President Michel Platini.
Platini publicly withdrew support from Blatter in June, after senior officials at a hostile UEFA meeting in Brazil urged Blatter to stand aside.
Platini has a scheduled news conference on Aug. 28 in Monaco where he could address his FIFA plans.
Blatter plans to confirm he is a candidate for a fifth term before a January deadline.
He says: “Now I say (to) other people, if they want to take the risk then take the risk.”
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