UEFA nations betrayed pro-reform mandate to oust Sepp Blatter as FIFA president

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Up to 18 European countries rebelled against mandate to kick out Blatter
Spain, Russia and allies in the eastern bloc went against UEFA orders
France and Spain as nations are huge beneficiaries of Qatari investment
UEFA have called an emergency session in Berlin next Saturday

Published: 17:32 EDT, 30 May 2015 | Updated: 20:20 EDT, 30 May 2015

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A string of European countries including France, Spain and Russia betrayed a supposedly pro-reform mandate to kick Sepp Blatter out of FIFA, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.

As many as 18 UEFA nations, including Russia and allies in the eastern bloc, plus Spain and UEFA president Michel Platini’s native France, went against UEFA orders to vote for Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein in Friday’s presidential election.

Russia is an avowed ally of Blatter, with public support coming from president Vladimir Putin.

As many as 18 UEFA nations went against orders to vote for Prince Ali Bin al Hussein in Friday's election

Blatter walks past the UEFA president Michel Platini, who had urged his member nations to vote for Prince Ali

Officials count the ballot papers during Friday's presidential election in Switzerland

Spain and France as nations are huge beneficiaries of Qatari investment. Both of their FIFA executive members voted in 2010 for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup.

As Blatter began a fifth four-year term on Saturday, Prince Ali and Uefa were analysing how and why more than a third of Europe’s 53-nation membership could have defied Platini’s request to vote as a bloc.

‘We believe as many as 18 Europeans may have voted for Blatter,’ said a source close to Prince Ali, who polled 73 votes to Blatter’s 133. It is understood a chunk of his 73 ballots came from the Americas.

One veteran FIFA insider told the Mail on Sunday that Blatter’s supporters within Europe include Turkey, Cyprus, Finland, as well as France, Spain and Russia.

The European mutiny cast new light on next Saturday’s UEFA emergency session in Berlin on the sidelines of the Champions League final.

Platini has called together his top brass to decide what action to take in the wake of Blatter’s victory, but it is clear there is no prospect of a World Cup boycott.