England football chief Greg Dyke on Saturday said that Sepp Blatter’s controversial re-election as Fifa president would not repel efforts to unseat him, and brushed of claims of a “hate” campaign.
“I don’t think yesterday (the vote) is the end of it, I think you will see a lot more,” FA Chairman Dyke said ahead of the FA Cup Final at London’s Wembley Stadium, echoing the words of US attorney general Loretta Lynch, who promised that this week’s corruption arrests were just the beginning.
“I’ll put money that Mr Blatter isn’t there in four years.
“Whatever happens, he will be gone after four years anyway, in which case we can elect someone to sort out world football.”
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The FA boss said Blatter had exploited his “incredible amount of patronage” within Fifa to secure re-election.
The English FA has been at the forefront of efforts to depose the veteran administrator, and now has the support of many countries in Europe, who voted against him on Friday.
But Dyke said England would not act alone in boycotting the World Cup, even if its fans called for it.
“There’s no point boycotting the World Cup on our own, but if the rest of Europe decided to boycott the World Cup, we would certainly join them,” he said.
“There’s no point on doing it alone, everyone says ‘thank you very much’ and then you’re forgotten.”
Dyke was speaking after unveiling Emirates Airline as the new sponsor of England’s showpiece cup competition, and took a swipe at Blatter during the press conference, particularly his accusation of a “hate” campaign by Europe’s football leaders.
“I notice everyone else is to blame except Blatter himself,” Dyke said.
“It seems anyone who speaks out against Blatter is carrying out a campaign of hate.”
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