Blatter rises to the challenge

Sepp Blatter and rival Issa Hayatou

As the race for control of football hots up, Fifa president Sepp Blatter talks exclusively to World Football's Alan Green.

Last week on World Football Issa Hayatou, who's challenging Sepp Blatter for Fifa's presidency, told us how he wanted to bring openness to the games governing body.

He told us how he thought the image of Fifa, and football as a whole, had been damaged by recent allegations of corruption.

This week, after returning from a whirlwind tour of African states, Mr Blatter told us his feelings on the election race so far.

Farah Addo claimed Blatter bribed him

"I think when you have a position open every four years, everyone has the right to apply" he said.

"If there is such an aggressive challenge it must be because this position is highly in demand.

"And also because people have seen that I have done a good job and think they can do the same.

"On the other hand I am amazed that people haven't realised we are in the same position as we were four years ago.

"There is the same coalition against Sepp Blatter now as there was then.

"Instead of Lennart Johansson the candidates name is Issa Hayatou. But the combination is the same.

'He said he was supporting me' - Sepp Blatter with Lennart Johansson

Mr Blatter said he was surprised by Uefa president Johansson's decision to ally himself with Issa Hayatou.

"I am surprised by his sudden change of support" he said.

"He has officially declared in the media that he is supporting me, and has even asked me if I would support him, which I did at the last Fifa extraordinary congress in Prague.

"He has written two letters to me telling me that he is supporting me, and now it seems he has changed his mind.

"He can change his mind, but should have the notion of fair play to speak to me before and say 'look Sepp, there have been some changes of circumstances and I am withdrawing my support' - but he never did that.

"He should have had the decency to inform the incumbent president.

Issa Hayatou has claimed his campaign is based around transparency, clearly implying that the current administration has something to hide.

"Fifa has never been more transparent than now" argued Blatter.

"Since I took the office this has been my priority. If the executive committees think something is wrong they should look at the figures and see that all transactions have been financed and ratified by the committee themselves.

"I don't think these accusations are fair, and that's why about 60 associations have asked for an extraordinary congress to explain the finances of Fifa.

"I don't want to mix a discussion of Fifa's finances with the election process.

"We have nothing to hide and at the end of the day we can show that not only are our finances in order but any procedures were made with the full permission on the executive committee.

'Hayatou's promises are nothing new' - Blatter

And Mr Blatter dismissed any suggestion that the accusations have seriously damaged his credibility.

"My person will come out stronger, because the members of fifa will realise that what has been reported around the world is not the truth" he said.

Mr Blatter was critical of Issa Hayatou's promises of improvements to youth development in football.

"This is nothing new" said Mr Blatter. "This has been part of the development programme since I got involved in Fifa. It's a good thing, but he isn't promising anything that hasn't been done for years.

Hayatou claimed he had the support of 90 percent of the African vote, seen as crucial to deciding the presidency, but Mr Blatter was not impressed.

"If he wants to say that then that's his problem" he said.

"I rely on the national associations of Africa who have already given their report to me.

"The national associations will have to make a choice between our ongoing development of football or if they want to change.

"They are free to change and should not be put under pressure to change, which Hayatou's aides are doing in Africa.

"They even said I was a racist. I don't know how they can say that a man who has devoted a large part of his life to developing football in Africa is a racist. This is abject.

'I'm not sure all of Uefa will follow Johansson' - Blatter

"There have been bitter words exchanged, but its not Hayatou himself, I have to say, it is his aides.

Mr Blatter denied suggestions of the development of an irreparable rift between Europe and Africa, implying Lennart Johansson may not have the support of all of Uefa.

"I am not so sure that the European associations will follow the initiative taken by their president" he said.

"The reality will come out soon with the European congress in Stockholm".

Speaking about his policies for the future of Fifa, Mr Blatter revealed his intentions to introduce a comprehensive insurance policy to protect players against injury.

You can hear all of Alan Green's interview with Sepp Blatter on World Football on Saturday 6 April on BBC World Service. Check local listings for exact times. Or you can use the audio link at the top of the page.