Rio de Janeiro, May 30 (IANS) Former Brazil striker Romario said football “will continue to be assaulted” following Sepp Blatter’s re-election as FIFA president in Zurich.
Romario, now a federal senator, expressed his dismay after the 79-year-old Swiss won a fifth straight term in-charge of world football’s governing body on Friday, reports Xinhua.
“Shamefully, Sepp Blatter was re-elected FIFA president. I’m not going to say that I’m surprised but that doesn’t mean that I’m not indignant. At the end of this term he will complete 20 years in power. Poor football will continue to be assaulted,” Romario said.
Blatter was declared the election winner when his only rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, withdrew despite forcing the vote into a second round.
The result came two days after seven FIFA officials were arrested on corruption charges as part of a United States prosecution indicting 14 people.
Romario announced a congressional inquiry into claims of widespread graft in Brazilian football. The investigation is expected to centre on allegations that Brazilian officials accepted kickbacks for a national team sponsorship deal and the Copa do Brasil marketing rights.