He's back. FIFA reelects Blatter unopposed as President

FIFA reappointed Joseph Sepp Blatter as its president Wednesday despite a last ditch attempt to block the election by the English Football Association. Delegates to the FIFA congress in Zurich voted down the English motion by 172 to 17

Addressing delegates, English FA chairman David Bernstein said proceeding with the election following the withdrawal of Blatter's rival Mohamed bin Hammam would provide a "flawed mandate."

However FIFA delegates dismissed the motion by a landslide, leaving the way clear for Blatter to be re-appointed as head of the organisation which has been rocked by several weeks of damaging graft claims.

Speaking after the defeat of the English motion, Blatter pledged to initiate wide-ranging reforms including an overhaul of the way the world football governing body chooses future World Cup hosts.

Blatter said World Cups would be picked by all 208 FIFA members, rather than the 24-strong executive committee which has awarded hosting rights in the past.

England has been suffering from "tabanca" since losing the 2018 world cup to Russia with virtually no support from FIFA's 24-member governing body. England got just two votes - its own and one from Europe.

"I want to give more power to the national associations," Blatter said. "In the future the World Cup will be decided by the FIFA Congress. The executive committee will create a shortlist - but will make no recommendations only a list - and the Congress will decide on the venue."

Blatter, 75, fought a hard, sometimes controversial, election battle against his former ally Mohammed bin Hammam, the Qatari head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) who withdrew from the race on Sunday amid allegations of vote-buying.

Earlier Wednesday, the head of Germany's football federation, Theo Zwanziger, called for FIFA to re-examine Qatar's victory in the 2022 race.

"I think there is a significant degree of suspicion that one cannot just dismiss," Zwanziger said in response to calls for FIFA to take away the event from Qatar.

Blatter's pledges for reform came after several key sponsors spoke out against the negative impact that recent corruption scandals are having on the organisation.

FIFA's sponsorship deals have helped to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the organisation since Blatter took over in 1998, making FIFA the richest sports body in the world with cash reserves of US$1.3 billion.

Speaking after his election, Blatter said he would "put FIFA's ship back on the right course in transparent waters. We will need some time, but we will do it."

Earlier this week, Blatter defiantly asserted that FIFA was not in crisis. But on Wednesday, the 75-year-old Swiss adopted a more contrite tone, admitting that the group has made mistakes.

"We are now facing an important challenge," Mr. Blatter said in his opening address to the congress. "We have been hit and I personally have been slapped." He added: "We have made mistakes, but we will draw our conclusions from the lessons taught."

Blatter said he is willing to face public anger to serve soccer. "I am the captain weathering the storm, not only is the pyramid shaking, but I would say our ship has drawn some water."

He said FIFA needs a leader to put it back on course and make reforms. "We need someone who will accept his responsibility. I am willing to do this," Mr. Blatter said. He promised changes that would be "not just touch ups, but radical decisions."

"We must do something because I don't want it ever again where FIFA, and yours truly face a situation which I would say is undignified."