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Romario: Blatter reelection an "assault" on football

Xinhua, May 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former Brazil striker Romario said football "will continue to be assaulted" following Sepp Blatter's reelection as FIFA president on Friday.

Romario, now a federal senator, used social media to express his dismay after the 79-year-old Swiss won a fifth straight term in charge of world football's governing body.

"Shamefully, Sepp Blatter was reelected FIFA president on Friday," Romario said on Instagram. "I'm not going to say that I'm surprised, but that doesn't mean that I'm not indignant.

"At the end of this term he will complete 20 years in power. Poor football will continue to be assaulted."

Blatter was declared the election winner when his only rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, withdrew despite forcing the vote into a second round.

The result came two days after seven FIFA officials were arrested on corruption charges as part of a US prosecution indicting 14 people.

Romario also used social media on Friday to announce a congressional inquiry into claims of widespread graft in Brazilian football.

The investigation is expected to center on allegations that Brazilian officials accepted kickbacks for a national team sponsorship deal and the Copa do Brasil marketing rights. Endi