PARIS, France, April 20 – Sepp Blatter set out his manifesto for re-election as FIFA president on Wednesday by emphasising the need for "stability, continuity and reliability" in the role.
In a letter sent to all 208 FIFA member nations and seen by AFP, Blatter also promised to provide more than $1 billion in development projects over the next four years.
The 75-year-old Swiss, who is seeking a fourth term in office, is standing against 61-year-old Mohammed bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, in the June 1 election.
"FIFA is my life, football is my life. I have all the motivation, experience, ideas and energy needed to complete my mission," wrote Blatter.
"I have decided to stand for my fourth and final term as president because in these uncertain times FIFA needs stability to secure all that we have achieved so far and to make essential changes to our beautiful game."
Bin Hammam has vowed to make FIFA more transparent if elected, in the wake of criticism surrounding the process by which Russia and Qatar were respectively awarded the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Blatter, however, has pointed to his successes as FIFA chief, including an increase in FIFA revenue since he took office in 1998 and the investment of $1.6 billion in projects such as the Goal! campaign.
He also highlights the success of the 49 global football tournaments to have taken part during his tenure, as well as the first men’s World Cup "on African soil" in South Africa last year.
"In these challenging times FIFA needs first of all stability, continuity and reliability," wrote Blatter.
"We do not need revolution within FIFA but the continuous evolution and improvement of our game and our organisation."
