FIFA president Sepp Blatter gestures during a news conference after being re-elected for a fourth term as president of the world soccer governing body during the 61st FIFA congress at the Hallenstadion in Zurich June 1, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

   

Final hurdle

Blatter named former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and ex-Dutch international Johan Cruyff as two personalities he would like to be involved with the committees in some capacity.

Looking relieved, Blatter said he would ask the solution committee to change the way in which the powerful executive committee, currently elected by the regional confederations, was chosen.

Blatter said he was surprised at the English proposal but said there would be no recriminations.

"There is no bad feeling against any of the associations that did not vote for me," said Blatter.

"I'm proud with 186 votes, those against me are also the members of FIFA and we take them all together."

The motion to postpone the election was rejected by 172 votes to 17, although the English proposal gained several more votes than originally expected.

Other delegates were less conciliatory and vice-president Julio Grondona of Argentina produced an astonishing attack on the English FA.

"It cannot be that the problems always come from the same side," said Grondona, claiming that England had been sulking since 1974 when Stanley Rous lost the FIFA presidency to Brazil's Joao Havelange.

"Since 1974, things have changed and it seemed that this country didn't like it....Now, we are in 2011 and they still seem to always have something to say."

Spanish FA president Angel Villar rounded on the media. "They attack our freedom because, most unfortunately for the world of football and FIFA, it is cheap and costs them nothing," he said.