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Blatter: FIFA needs experienced and strong leader

Xinhua, May 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the organizations need a strong and experienced leader.

In a speech made at the FIFA Congress before the president election, he said: "We need to recover our good name, we will do this tomorrow morning."

"We need to protect our house not just from corruption but racism, match-fixing, doping and violence.

"Football touches the world to prepare a better world. There is this notion of peace, I'll speak about the handshake of peace."

"We will change things in the future, starting tomorrow.

"We need to keep the World Cup - it is the goose of the golden egg."

"We don't need revolutions, but we always need evolution.

"Yesterday, the day before and today, I am being held accountable for the current storm. OK so be it. I will shoulder that responsibility. Just as I said, I will take it upon myself. I will accept it and I want to fix FIFA together with you.

"I want to hand over a FIFA that will have emerged from the storm. A FIFA that will have enough safeguards which will not need the political interventions. I promise you this."

Jordan's Prince Ali is the only rival to challenge him in the election which is already under way.

The result will be announced soon. Endi