In the middle of the storm that was created with this Wednesday's arrests in Zurich, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein may be the winner in this huge mess. The only man standing against Sepp Blatter in the upcoming presidential elections can receive all the votes from those that are giving second thoughts to re-electing Blatter.
Earlier in the week, Prince Ali's team reported that a man had approached with an offer that included 47 votes and some information about the current president. They denied the offer and may have won some followers for doing so.
Blatter may have lost a lot of credibility after the arrests
Question is how many Blatter votes were just arrested? Have enough members been spooked that Prince Ali might just win election? #FIFA
— Patrick Johnston (@PJReuters) May 27, 2015
"For the sake of the fans, and good governance, it's time for Sepp Blatter to step down," says Cobus de Swardt @anticorruption #FIFAarrests
— CNN International (@cnni) May 27, 2015
The Jordanian leader's campaign has been backed up by those who have decided not to run anymore against Blatter. Michell Platini and many other figures of the sport are with Prince Ali this time around.
I am deeply honoured by the support of President Platini. http://t.co/NKCCeLUsUk
— Ali Bin Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) May 25, 2015
I'm also grateful for the faith & trust invested in me both by Mr Van Praag & by members of the football & FIFA families across the world
— Ali Bin Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) May 21, 2015
Many people in the world of football are asking for a change in direction. Blatter has been the president of Fifa for 16 years and could make it up to 20 if he was elected once again. The 79-year-old chief of the football world was not among those arrested this Wednesday morning.
People seem tired of the way Fifa does things
Being kicked out of Fifa media room as, and I quote, "we need to clean this place." It writes itself sometimes...
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) May 27, 2015
De Gregorio: FIFA president Sepp Blatter and secretary general Jerome Valcke are not involved in the proceedings.
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 27, 2015
The elections are scheduled to take place within the next few days. Now, we will have to wait and see if the decision stands or if they plan to move it for a later date.
These incidents can really shift the outcome of the elections
FA Chmn Greg Dyke: "there must be a question mark over whether the (FIFA presidential) election should take place in these circumstances"
— Dan Roan (@danroan) May 27, 2015