01 June,2011 08:42 AM IST | | AFP
The English Football Association called yesterday for FIFA to postpone its scandal-tainted presidential election to give "any alternative reforming candidate" to Sepp Blatter a chance to stand.
Football Association (FA) chairman David Bernstein said the allegations of corruption made against senior FIFA officials in recent days had "reinforced" the FA's decision made earlier this month to abstain in Wednesday's vote.
Sepp Blatter
Bernstein urged football's world governing body to support England's stance "to postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for President".
EU urge fair play
The European Union urged FIFA to ensure all its dealings are "above suspicion," as major sponsors cried foul and calls mounted for world football's governing body to scrap a corruption-tainted presidential election.
"Football and sport in general need good leadership and governance, above suspicion and firmly rooted in accountability and transparency," the EU's commissioner for sport, Androulla Vassiliou, told AFP. "We need fair-play on and off the pitch," she added.
