Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 9y

Jerome Champagne: FIFA president Sepp Blatter 'is not corrupt'

FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has reiterated his belief that election rival Sepp Blatter is not corrupt.

Champagne, 56, is -- so far -- the sole challenger to 78-year-old Blatter, who will seek a fifth term as FIFA president next year.

The Swiss has found himself under fire following revelations he and other members of FIFA's Executive Committee had been given watches worth 25,000 dollars by the Brazilian Football Federation during the World Cup.

Having worked alongside Blatter at FIFA between 1999 and 2010, Champagne told Sport 365 TV he has faith in the integrity of man he seeks to oust from the most powerful position in world football.

"I'm not here to defend Mr. Blatter. The day I launched my campaign, I went on CNN. They asked me the question, 'Is Mr. Blatter corrupt?' I will say it again here on your channel: Mr. Blatter is not corrupt," he said.

"On the other hand, I say that the manner in which the Executive Committee is made up, the way in which it is elected, means that sometimes you have to sell your soul to the Devil. I have done it, we have done it."

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