New Zealand no longer supporting Blatter

New Zealand Football (NZF) is no longer supporting FIFA president Sepp Blatter, announcing it will vote for Prince Ali bin al-Hussein on Friday.

All 11 OFC nations, including New Zealand, had said after their January congress that they would back Blatter.

But the scandal surrounding FIFA, which had nine officials and five corporate executives indicted for racketeering conspiracy and corruption, has seen New Zealand switch.

The New Zealand Football Executive Committee held a meeting in Auckland on Friday before releasing a statement saying it would no longer support Blatter.

“Given the developments in the past 48 hours – which have been deeply distressing for all of us who love football – New Zealand Football believes substantive change is now essential within FIFA as soon as possible to repair its tarnished reputation,'” NZF president Mark Aspden said.

“The Executive Committee believes that real change can only be implemented with a new president in place, and accordingly, we have opted to support the election of Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein.”

Despite recent events, Blatter is still expected to be re-elected in Zurich later on Friday.