FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has predicted that Sepp Blatter will "comfortably" win the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
The incumbent Blatter is bidding for a fifth term at the head table of world football's governing body, but faces competition from Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan.
However, despite receiving heavy criticism and being the subject of corruption allegations during his controversial tenure, Blatter remains the overwhelming favourite to be re-elected once again.
"He has taken an awful lot of flak, but for the 209 associations they may view it differently and I think he will win the election comfortably," Boyce told PA.
"Sepp Blatter may not be a young man but when the associations ask him for things or invite him to occasions then he invariably helps them and visits them, and people appreciate that.
"My view is that he did not take action against the people he should have done several years ago, but what you can say is that those people have now departed. The people who acted in an improper manner should have been away years ago, the action was not quick enough."
Blatter has already received the formal backing of the Asian, African and South American confederations.
Boyce, meanwhile, will stand down from his role this Friday, when he will be replaced by David Gill.
Barney Corkhill
