LONDON — Secret talks between FIFA officials and Sepp Blatter have taken place over his future as the president of football's world governing body, BBC reported Monday. The discussions, involving representatives from a number of football confederations, are understood to have started in October 2013, at the celebrations for the English Football Association's 150th anniversary. Blatter has since confirmed his intention to stand in May's presidential election and seek a fifth term of office. However, with the Jan. 29 deadline looming for candidates to declare their interest, there is mounting concern amongst several FIFA executives over the governing body's future direction and leadership. Speaking in Manila earlier this month, Blatter reaffirmed he has support from five of the six confederations that constitute FIFA. But BBC reported that it has been told the recent crisis within the governing body, stemming from an investigation into alleged World Cup bidding corruption that culminated last week in the resignation of ethics committee investigator Michael Garcia, could yet have far-reaching effects. Garcia quit citing a lack of independence in FIFA's judicial processes and his belief the organization's culture was beyond reform. FIFA sources have also reportedly spoken of how, in light of recent events, a number of potential challengers are now weighing their candidacy options. The question being posed within FIFA circles is whether Blatter, if he opts to stand aside ahead of May's election, would back the candidacy of one of the five publicly supportive confederation presidents. UEFA, the European confederation, remains the most vocal critic of Blatter's desire to continue on as president. European football association chiefs told Blatter he should stand aside for the good of the sport during a stormy meeting in Sao Paulo in June. Yet UEFA has yet to propose a candidate of its own. Another source close to Blatter said the president is “invigorated” after last week's executive committee meeting in Marrakech. “He was invigorated by the whole event and he is finishing the year on a high note,” said the source, adding that he had not heard any suggestion that Blatter would change his mind about standing. “That is not our information at all,” he said. On Monday, Blatter said in a statement published by FIFA that soccer's world governing body had to restore credibility. FIFA executive committee member Prince Ali of Jordan is understood to be one potential candidate UEFA would consider supporting. However, given that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), under the leadership of Shaikh Salman of Bahrain, has declared strong support for Blatter, it is thought he would struggle to secure the necessary votes to win. With former FIFA official Jerome Champagne the only other person to publicly state his wish to be on the presidential ballot paper, attention amongst FIFA insiders is starting to turn to Jeffrey Webb. He was appointed president of Concacaf, the football confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean, in 2012 in the wake a major financial scandal involving the former FIFA vice presidents Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner. Shaikh Salman is another name thought to be under discussion amongst insiders, along with FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke, as candidates Blatter could potentially accept as a successor. But the man who has led FIFA since 1998 was far from convincing about his candidacy when asked last week by BBC if he would categorically run. “We will see on 1 Feb. who are the candidates for the election,” he said. “Probably you will see my name there because I've been asked by a lot of national associations to do so. But let me pass Christmas, or let's say the fiestas at the end of the year, and give me then the opportunity to say: ‘Yes I will be present.'” — Agencies
