Football
PA Sport 9y

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter 'not going to take the risk of travelling'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has insisted he has "nothing to fear" on a personal level as an investigation into corruption at FIFA which has seen 14 people indicted in the United States continues.

However, Blatter -- who also said he would not be standing for re-election again -- has revealed he has no intention of travelling while the crisis continues as he fears being arrested to create a further crisis for world football's governing body.  

The 79-year-old told Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper: "I am here to fight, not for myself but for FIFA. Criticism doesn't hurt me -- what does hurt are the tirades of hatred. Envy has turned into hatred. I am afraid people want to destroy FIFA, which is my product.

"Everybody has fears, for example of dying, but I have nothing to fear in view of my work at FIFA. I am not afraid."

Blatter announced on June 2 he would step down from the FIFA presidency at an extraordinary congress to be held between December and March.

Since then there has been speculation that Blatter could actually stand for the post once again, but the Swiss has dismissed that prospect, saying: "It is not my intention to stand as a candidate again."

Until that emergency meeting, Blatter is to remain in Switzerland and do all he can to clean up FIFA's image.

That is partly because he feels there is a lot of work to be done, but also because he fears he may be arrested the moment he leaves the country.

"Not because the Americans have anything concrete against me, but because it would cause a public stir," Blatter said. "Until everything has been cleared up, I am not going to take the risk of travelling."

Blatter is therefore not going to present the trophy to the winners of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada on Sunday.

"After the tsunami, I just need a bit of time to recover," Blatter said. "But self-doubt is one of the biggest enemies of a leader. I believe in what I am doing."

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