We vote for development, not to get something in return: AIFF president Praful Patel

All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel has said that India base their vote at FIFA elections on development work in the country and not because they get something in return. “We don’t support individuals. We don’t vote for someone because we are getting something. We back whoever is good for the development of football in the region,” Patel is quoted as saying in a Hindu report. [caption id=“attachment_2279146” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Praful Patel. AFP[/caption] India have been traditional backers of Sepp Blatter — and the Swiss administrator has invested a healthy amount of money to develop the game in the region. Last year, India were also announced as hosts of the 2017 U-17 World Cup. Blatter was re-elected last week as FIFA president despite a spate of corruption allegations on the world governing body and arrests made by US investigators FBI. It is well known that Blatter had the backing of Asian and African members. However, he stepped down two days back after citing that the football world did not share his mandate. It has been reported that a letter leaked to the media which shows South Africa ‘donating’ $10 million towards Carribbean football development before the 2010 World Cup and being sent to secretary general Jerome Valcke added pressure on Blatter to reconsider his position. FIFA admitted that it processed the payment which is believed to have been made for votes during the hosting bid, but vehemently denied Valcke being involved in the bribery scandal that errupted four days before the FIFA Congress in Zurich. However, Patel, who is also the vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), thinks that these developments, and the eventual stepping down of Blatter, will not affect the growth of football in India — or the ‘day-to-day running of FIFA’. But he did say that the recent event shad affected the image of FIFA. Sponsors, prominent sportsmen and legends of the game all reacted positively to Blatter quitting. Blatter has called for an ’extra-ordinary congress’ to elect a new president. Click here to erad the full report.