Fifa’s future is unstable, admits president Sepp Blatter

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has vowed to fight against “dangers” threatening the future of football on the eve of the world governing body’s presidential election.

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Blatter, addressing the 208 Fifa association members at the glittering opening ceremony of the 61st Fifa congress in Zurich, voiced his concern at the growing “threat” to his organisation and conceded that the recent corruption scandal has left it “shaking on its very foundations”.

The 75-year-old said: “I thought that football could make a difference thanks to the game’s values of respect, fair play and discipline.

“But this does not seem to be the case; the footballing pyramid is shaking on its very foundations.

“However, football must be protected because it belongs to the fans, to the players and not to entities. The game belongs to everyone.”

“So tomorrow, dear friends, at the opening of the congress’ agenda I will speak to you about this danger that is there, lurking – and tell you about how we can fight and how we can react against this threat of danger to make sure that our sport may also play its role bringing people together in the future.

“But that we leave for tomorrow. Today we want to meet in a festive atmosphere.”