Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter told the New York Times that, in his mind, he'll always be a president as the election for his successor is due to take place in Zurich on Friday.
Blatter, who has been the head of football's governing body for the last 18 years, will find out who will take over for him on Friday, with the 79-year-old maintaining he is a happy man and is also confident his ban from football-related activities will not be upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"Enough is enough," Blatter said in an exclusive interview with the New York Times. "I will always be a president.
"Every day is a fiesta. I am a happy man. Sometimes sad, yes. But I am a happy man."
Regarding his eight-year ban for a "disloyal payment" of two million Swiss francs (£1.3m) allegedly made to UEFA boss Michel Platini in 2011, Blatter said there is nothing to the charges and that his ban should have been reduced more than the two years it was by a FIFA Appeal Committee.
At @nytimes, Sepp Blatter on the FIFA election, his legacy and why terrorists don't attack soccer games (!?!): https://t.co/elMnKMobgC
- Sam Borden (@SamBorden) February 25, 2016
"This ban of six years, eight years, 20 years -- whatever it is, it will not be upheld by the tribunal [CAS]. In their ruling, they took out bribery and corruption -- so what is left if there is no bribery and corruption? It's not logical.
"I have also worked double than Platini -- they should have given me four years' reduction, not two. He is 60 and I am 80.
"No man is a prophet in his own country," Blatter added. "The Swiss authorities here treated me like I was the last of the gangsters in the world."
The candidates on the ballot to replace Blatter include Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Jerome Champagne and Tokyo Sexwale.
Blatter has not endorsed any of the candidates.
All but two of FIFA's 209 member national associations each have a vote in the secret ballot to elect the new president -- the Kuwaiti and Indonesian federations are currently suspended.
If a candidate wins two thirds of the vote they are automatically elected after a first round. Otherwise voting moves to a second round where a majority share of the vote is required to win.
The election is 11th on a list of 12 agenda items, which will also include crucial reforms to world football's governing body.