Blatter hits back

Blatter feels he is being unfairly targeted by Johansson

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has accused Uefa leader Lennart Johansson of foul play in the world governing body's election campaign.

Blatter - who beat Johansson to become Fifa chief in 1998 after a bitter battle - is standing for re-election against Cameroon's Issa Hayatou.

But the current president has been besieged by claims of financial mismanagement and allegations his supporters paid cash for votes in the past.

So far I have not seen Mr Hayatou attacking me - but I have had to defend myself from Mr Johansson

Fifa president Sepp Blatter

Blatter has enraged Uefa by suspending an investigation into Fifa's finances - but the Swiss lawyer insisted he had nothing to hide.

Blatter told the BBC: "It has become personal, especially with Mr Johansson attacking me.

"So far I have not seen Mr Hayatou attacking me and I have not said anything wrong or anything nasty about him.

"But I have had to defend myself from Mr Johansson.

"In a race for the presidency it's like a football match. Definitely I am the favourite.

"It's dirty I would say, but not between the two opponents.

"There's a third man in the centre of midfield and he's trying to tackle me.

"He is from the outside and there should be a referee eliminating people who enter the field of play with unfair play."

Blatter stands firm

Blatter said the investigation team would be allowed to complete their inquiries.

"They will have time to finish the audit, and they will come back with results," he added.

"They will show that the finances of Fifa, they could be better, but they are still in good order.

Hayatou challenging Blatter for presidency

"It's a paradoxical situation my opponent Mr Issa Hayatou is also advocating in future he will maintain financial services for the national associations at the same time he does not trust the Fifa finances.

"How can he on one side promise they go on and on the other he does not believe it? He's wrong when he puts in question the finances."

The Fifa president also maintained he was not fighting for his political life, and said: "No, I am fighting for the good of the game.

"I want to fight and I will fight until the end.

"Football is not only about the big spectacular entertainment, football is about education and for the majority of people in the world about improving life.

"It is for this reason that I have offered my services not only now but in a quarter of a century in the game."