Fifa crisis: Sepp Blatter's fate to be heard at presidential vote amid corruption scandal

Sepp Blatter will today (29 May) find out if he has been re-elected for the firth time as Fifa president despite continuing calls for his resignation in the wake of the multi-million pound corruption scandal.

The 209 members of Fifa will cast their vote to determine whether Blatter or the only other running candidate, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, will become the new head of football's world governing body.

The vote arrives just two days after 14 people were arrested – including seven senior Fifa executives – in a US corruption and bribery inquiry followed by a separate Swiss criminal investigation into the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar respectively.

The election was previously expected to be a formality for Blatter, but recent events surrounding Fifa and several high profile names and organisations – including Uefa – calling for Blatter to step down has made the result less predictable.

Both Blatter and Prince Ali will be given the chance to address each of the 209 Fifa associates before the voting begins. If either candidate gets two thirds (139) of the vote in the first round, they will be declared the outright winner. If a two thirds majority has not been reached by either Blatter or Prince Ali, the winner will be decided by whoever gains the most votes in the second round.

Uefa president Michel Platini said he expects around 45 members of organisation to back Prince Ali in the vote. Platini said he urged Blatter "with tears in his eyes" to resign before the vote began, saying "I have had enough - enough is enough, too much is too much."

Blatter has also lost the backing of the Australian football federation (FFA) despite backing the 79-year-old for years.

"FFA believes that profound change within Fifa is needed as soon as possible to address issues of governance and transparency," chairman Frank Lowry said. "This belief will be reflected when Australia casts its vote in the presidential election, should it proceed on Friday in Zurich."

The representatives of New Zealand, the US and Canadian football associations have also expressed their intention to back Prince Ali in the election.

Blatter is still expected to have the backing of the African, Latin American and Asian federations, which will give him enough votes to continue his 17-year reign as Fifa president.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the arrests at a hotel in Zurich, Blatter insisted he is not responsible for the current state of the organisation.

He said: "You will agree with me that these are unprecedented and difficult times for Fifa. The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this congress.

"Actions of individuals have proven to bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all. We cannot allow the reputation of football and Fifa to be dragged through the mud any longer. It has to stop here.

"I know many people hold me responsible. I cannot monitor everyone all the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it."