FIFA voting democratic, Prince Ali's withdrawal is courageous - Russian Sports Minister Mutko
MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - The presidential election at FIFA, the association football international governing body, passed democratically at the organization's congress in Zurich on Friday, and Prince Ali bin al-Hussain of Jordan acted courageously by withdrawing his candidacy, Russian Sports Minister and FIFA Executive Committee member Vitaly Mutko said on Friday evening.
"The voting was tense but democratic, everything under video cameras. Everything was within the framework of democratic procedures," Mutko said on the Rossiya-24 news TV channel.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussain of Jordan's decision to withdraw his candidacy after the first round of the voting was courageous, he said.
"It was unrealistic to win back 60 votes in the second round, and the prince acted courageously by pulling back his candidacy, which was surely taken by the congress with gratitude," he said.
Asked by a TV host whether it was known how the votes cast by different delegations were split up, Mutko replied that this can only be guessed.
"Certainly, a number of countries supported Prince Ali. Powerful support from African countries, Asian countries, and part of the European countries was decisive. I can only say that we expressed our position openly and publicly. We believe a lot has yet to be done to change football, and changes in such an organization should be prepared thoroughly," Mutko said.