Washington, May 30 (IANS) USA Football chief Sunil Gulati has congratulated re-elected FIFA President Sepp Blatter while promising to push for “meaningful change” within the organisation.
“We congratulate President Blatter and it is our hope he will make reform his No.1 priority to ensure the integrity of the sport across the world. While we are disappointed in the result of the election, we will continue to push for meaningful change within FIFA. Our goal is for governance of FIFA that is responsible, accountable, transparent and focused solely of the best interests of the game,” Gulati said, reports Xinhua.
On Friday in Zurich, Blatter won 133 of the 209 votes cast in the first round of voting which was not enough for an outright win. Then, the withdrawal of Jordan Prince Ali Bin Hussein from the second round of voting with his defeat a near certainty, left Blatter as president for a fifth term.
Gulati said before the election that the US delegate would vote for Prince Ali as he made the decision to vote against Blatter months ago, and this week’s indictment of nine current and former FIFA officials by the US Department of Justice confirmed his decision.