Blatter confirms fifth term bid

"I have announced to the Executive Committee ... that I will accept the demands of different associations and federations [to stand for election] to serve FIFA for a fifth mandate," Blatter said at a press conference in Zurich on Friday.

The 78-year-old has been FIFA's president since 1998, but has faced growing criticism from European football associations in recent months.

His path to what appears to be clear re-election was opened up after UEFA boss Michel Platini announced in August that he would not challenge Blatter. Blatter said after winning his fourth term in 2011 that it would be his last, but made it clear in recent months that he had changed his mind.

The election will be held at the next FIFA congress in Zurich on May 29, 2015. So far the only other candidate is Jerome Champagne, a former FIFA deputy secretary general from France.

Champagne has said FIFA needs reform after widespread accusations of corruption, but has acknowledged he has little chance of beating Blatter.

World Cup secrets

FIFA remains embroiled in controversy over the way the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournament hosts were determined. Blatter said on Friday that ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia's report into alleged corruption in the 2018-2022 World Cup bidding will stay secret.

Blatter said no member of the Executive Committee asked for the report to be published at its meeting on Friday. Garcia issued a statement on Wednesday this week, calling for FIFA's ruling board to allow publication of his work. He has submitted first-draft reports of over 400 pages from his investigative team.

Several FIFA board members have publicly backed the American prosecutor, with some seeking full disclosure. Blatter says those members "were not there" on December 2, 2010 when the board gave Russia and Qatar respectively the hosting rights.

A ban for TPO

Blatter has also confirmed that Third Party Ownership (TPO) would be banned from the sport - but only within "three or four years", according to General Secretary Jerome Valcke.

Some players, particularly common in parts of South America, have their rights owned by companies, investment funds or sometimes individuals. It is banned in countries, such as, England and France.

"We took a firm decision that TPO should be banned but it cannot be banned immediately. There will be a transitional period,” said Blatter who has planned to outlaw the loophole since 2007.

"I have been constantly warning for years that this practice – which is becoming increasingly widespread – is a danger to our sport,” added UEFA president Michel Platini.

A proposal will be submitted to FIFA's executive committee in December.

al/jr (AFP, dpa)