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Panama supports change in FIFA presidency

Xinhua, May 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pedro Chaluja, president of Panama Football Federation (Fepafut), said on Thursday that he will not support the reelection of Joseph Blatter for President of FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) in elections set for this Friday.

Fepafut will back Jordan prince, Ali bin Al Hussein, Blatter's only rival for the head of the world soccer body in the elections to be held on Friday, said Chaluja to Panamanian TV channel Telemetro through a phone call from Switzerland.

"The elections will indeed take place. Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) members are free to vote for whom they consider; I think many votes will go for Prince Ali. Panama will not vote for Joseph Blatter," said Chaluja.

Blatter will seek reelection in the midst of a corruption scandal following the arrest of seven FIFA executives on Wednesday.

Chaluja admitted great disappointment regarding Wednesday's events which led to Fepafut unanimously opting for a change in the world soccer organization.

The statements consider the possibility of irregularities in the World Cup host bidding for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, in addition to the possible bribes that go up to 150 million U.S. dollars by sports marketing companies.

Said bribes were paid in order to obtain broadcasting rights for regional tournaments like Gold Cup and Copa America, and other companies Traffic Sports, which has a commercial contract with Panamanian body, has been mentioned. Endi