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U.S. soccer president congratulates Blatter, promises to fight for reform

Xinhua, May 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati congratulates re-elected FIFA president Sepp Blatter while promising to push for "meaningful change" within the organization on Friday.

"We congratulate President Blatter and it is our hope he will make reform his number one priority to ensure the integrity of the sport across the world," Gulati said in a statement.

"While we are disappointed in the result of the election, we will continue to push for meaningful change within FIFA. Our goal is for governance of FIFA that is responsible, accountable, transparent and focused solely of the best interests of the game."

On Friday in Zurich, Blatter won 133 of the 209 votes cast in the first round of voting, which was not enough for an outright win. Then, the withdrawal of Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Hussein from the second round of voting with his defeat a near certainty, leaves Blatter as president of FIFA for a fifth term.

Gulati said before the election that the U.S. delegate would vote for Prince Ali, as he made the decision to vote against Blatter months ago, and this week's indictment of nine current and former FIFA officials by the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed his decision. Endi