Blatter stands firm

Sepp Blatter steadfastly rejects the allegations

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Fifa president Sepp Blatter arrived in South Korea on Thursday and declared that he fully expected to survive the scandal currently engulfing football's world governing body.

Blatter arrived at Inchon international airport near Seoul to prepare for a pre-World Cup Fifa congress in which he faces re-election.

Despite allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement, Blatter said he retained the support of the majority of the federation's members.

Blatter responds to allegations

"Because of the work we have done over 20 years with Fifa I am confident," he said.

The Vital vote

Fifa has 204 member nations.

All members entitled to vote individually.

President elected by straight majority.

Fifa has six confederations;

Uefa: (Europe) 51 votes.

Concacaf: (C & N America) 35.

AFC: (Asia) 45.

OFC: (Oceania) 11.

CAF: (Africa) 52.

Conmebol: (S America) 10.

"The game is now universal. Twenty five years ago it was only played in two continents and we have overcome many problems during my presidency."

On his arrival in Seoul Blatter was greeted by one of his toughest critics - powerful South Korean football chief Chung Mong-joon.

Chung, a Fifa vice-president and co-chairman of South Korea's World Cup organising committee, said two weeks ago that Blatter's conduct as president of Fifa over the past four years may warrant a criminal investigation.

Chung and 10 other members of Fifa's 24-member executive began legal proceedings against Blatter in Switzerland on 12 May.

Fifa sues Blatter

The Fifa president has described the action as a smear campaign and denies the charges point by point.

Let the problems be solved internally

Sepp Blatter

Blatter said: "I do hope that from now up to the congress and then to the World Cup that we speak more about football than we do about problems.

"Let the problems be solved internally which can be solved internally by Fifa and the others let the congress solve the problems."

"I am very proud to be the president of Fifa at such a historic moment as for the first time, Fifa's World Cup is played in Asia."