Big and very big money will be at stake in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections

It is safe to say that he has never had such difficult elections as Sepp Blatter faces this year. Even in 1998, when Blatter first applied for the post of chief football official, it was easier for him. The aging FIFA President Joao Havelange, who had been in office for 24 years, was looking for a worthy successor and he could not find a better person than Blatter. Compared to Havelange, Blatter looked, if not a daring youth, then at least a progressive-minded person. But Blatter’s main merit was that he was “an insider”: he worked for FIFA for many years in more modest positions, and was on excellent terms with FIFA’s main partner, Adidas. UEFA President Lennart Johansson tried to add intrigue to the 1998 elections: he hoped that close ties with the leading world powers would guarantee his victory. But he was wrong.

Almost 200 countries took part in the voting. Europe, of course, could not provide Johansson with the required passing grade. Moreover, Blatter conducted active underground work on all continents. In the FIFA presidential elections, it doesn’t matter at all who votes for you - England or Uganda. He is a voice in Africa too. And Blatter began working with underdeveloped countries. Some federations were promised assistance from FIFA (anything from contracts with Adidas to direct cash injections), some votes were simply bought. So, a few years after the 1998 elections, Somali Farah Ado said that Blatter offered him $100,000 for the right decision. But Ado refused.

Blatter won those elections. But after the Somali’s revelations, his reputation was damaged. Blatter began to be accused of corruption by journalists, in particular that he knew about the possible bankruptcy of a major FIFA partner, the marketing group ISMM-ISL, but for a generous kickback he allowed it to prepare for the 2002 World Cup. After the group went bankrupt, FIFA suffered losses of $300 million. Then they began to blame him for trusting the most lucrative places in organizing the World Championships to the companies of his friends and relatives. The host countries of the World Cup complained that Blatter was greedy: all proceeds from the sale of souvenirs go into FIFA’s pocket, and FIFA sponsors do not pay taxes to the local treasury during the World Cup, subject to special economic rules.

For Blatter, the grumbling of the football world was always nothing more than just noise: the most important thing is that the federations, to which he generously paid, were at one with him, which means nothing interfered with his happy presidency. Complete idyll in world football was restored in 2007, when Johansson was removed from his post at UEFA with the help of Blatter by Michel Platini. And now the president of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohammed bin Hammam, suddenly decided to break it.

The Internet portal Worldfootballinsider.com puts Bin Hammam in second place in the list of the most influential football officials after Blatter. It was he who helped Qatar win the 2022 World Cup, beating competitors from the USA and Australia. Bin Hammam's main weapon is the same as Blatter's in his time - unlimited financial resources and, as a result, support for the weak of this world. Suffice it to say that the officially announced budget of Qatar’s bid campaign was $80 million.

After Qatar’s victory, accusations of vote bribery fell on bin Hammam (Qatar is his brainchild), just like Blatter 14 years ago, only adjusted for the amount. For example, Newsweek journalist Jonathan Elter, citing unnamed sources, says that individual votes were worth up to $10 million. In Qatar, of course, accusations of bribery are rejected. Bin Hammam's election speech also appeals to finance: for example, he promises to double FIFA's payments to international federations to $500,000 a year, and the budget of the Goal program (which helps develop football in poor countries in Asia and Africa) will increase to $1 million

Bin Hammam also wants to reform the FIFA executive committee, which was disgraced throughout the world last year when English journalists accused two representatives of the 23 FIFA executive committee of being ready to take bribes. Bin Hammam wants to expand the executive committee to 40 people, supposedly for greater independence.

Until the last moment, bin Hammam was not sure whether to go to the polls or not. After all, a mistake here is like death. Firstly, defeat in the elections will automatically reduce the level of influence of bin Hammam in the eyes of the football public. Secondly, bin Hammam saw very well how Blatter dealt with his defeated opponents (you can consult Johansson on this issue).

Federations friendly to Bin Hammam encouraged him to run for the FIFA presidency immediately after the Qatari bid won, but he decided to take a short break. According to bin Hammam himself, in the last couple of weeks he has traveled a lot around the world and spent a lot of time in Europe: it was important for him to understand what he can count on here, on the territory of Platini, and therefore Blatter himself. Judging by the fact that bin Hammam decided to go to the elections, he was pleased with the results. At least England, which believes that it was Blatter who deprived it of the 2018 World Cup, will definitely vote for him.

Blatter himself also apparently sensed something was wrong. For the last six months he has been quieter than ever, and if he speaks loudly about something, it is usually about how important it is for FIFA to help develop football in third world countries. But developing countries may no longer be Blatter's trump card. A man has appeared who can pay even more generously. For Blatter - the notorious administrative resource and connections developed over the years. For bin Hammam - money. The latter states that his chances of defeating Blatter are 50 to 50 and the whole fight is ahead. The denouement is scheduled for June 1.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has a rival