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Lowy unhappy with result

Frank Lowy has expressed disappointment at Sepp Blatter’s re-election as president of football’s governing body.

Lowy, the Football Federation Australia president, is adamant Blatter must now live up to the promises he’s made to rid FIFA of scandal.

Blatter secured 133 votes which fell short of the two-third majority required to get him re-elected, prompting a second round of voting.

However, his challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who won 73 votes in the first round, withdrew from the race after he conceded defeat.

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But Lowy also says he will hold Blatter to his promise to restore FIFA’s image, which has been shattered after the arrest in Zurich on Wednesday of seven FIFA officials, including two vice presidents.

They are accused by US authorities of taking tens of millions of dollars in bribes.

“It is a democracy and Mr Blatter was duly elected,” Lowy said in an FFA statement.

“He was very clear in acknowledging that FIFA faced a real challenge to restore its standing and Australia will play its role along with other associations to try to achieve this.

“The vote secured by Prince Ali was not insignificant and reflects a belief within FIFA and the world football community that governance and other reforms need to be implemented as soon as possible.”

Australia voted for Blatter’s challenger, Prince Ali, as did most of Europe’s 53 members and the United States.

But Blatter’s support in Africa and Asia saw him through to a fifth term.

Prince Ali announced his decision to withdraw after he failed to win in the first round of voting and says he did it to protect those countries.

“There are 73 national associations out there who were really brave and I did it for them,” Prince Ali said.

“I don’t want them to be in any more trouble for taking a real stand and a proper stand, so that’s why I did it.”

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