Football: Blatter yet to decide on Fifa presidency bid

SEPP BLATTER has hinted that he may soon step down as general secretary of football's world governing body, Fifa. Blatter, whose contract expires at the end of the year, is involved in a heated debate as to whether he will run for the Fifa presidency against Lennart Johansson, the president of the European governing body, Uefa.

Blatter said yesterday that he would announce by the end of the month whether he would put himself forward as a candidate. The deadline for nominations is 7 April and any election would be held on 8 June, on the eve of the World Cup.

The present Fifa president, Joao Havelange, who last week backed England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup, is due to retire this summer after 24 years in control. Although Uefa and the African federation are supporting Johansson, Havelange is backing Blatter and the row is threatening to overshadow the build-up to this summer's World Cup finals in France. During a meeting of the Fifa executive committee last week, Johansson's allies demanded that Blatter resign from his post at Fifa to avoid a conflict of interest. Havelange rejected the demand and ended the meeting before a vote could be taken.

Blatter has been general secretary since 1981 and, in addition to his footballing responsibilities, is also a vociferous campaigner for Switzerland's bid to host the 2006 Winter Olympics.