It’s officialworld football’s controversial leader Sepp Blatter is set to enter the enemy’s lair just weeks after accusing UEFA of plotting to depose him.
The FIFA president is prepared to the risk of public humiliation in Vienna next month as he faces the three men who plan to usurp him with European governing body UEFA considering giving each candidate the chance to make their case at its congress on March 24.
FIFA confirmed to CNN that Blatter plans to be in Austria for the congress as he steps up his campaigning to retain the presidency.
With 209 federation votes at stake, the candidates will have the opportunity to influence over a quarter of them as they address UEFA’s 54 member nations at an event that would be broadcast online.
Seeking a fifth consecutive term in office at the age of 79, Blatter is facing challenges from Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, Dutchman Michael van Praag and former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo.
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“All this opposition is coming now it’s unfortunate to say it, it’s coming from Nyon, from UEFA. They don’t have the courage to come in.
“So let me go (on) — be respectful! Because in football you learn to win but you also learn to lose. So I’m going now. If I win the better, if I lose OK!”
Read: Dutchman eyes FIFA throne
Read: Figo — “I want to be president”
