Fifa bosses turn on ‘liars’ in English FA as Blatter keeps stranglehold on power

The FA and the Scottish FA attempted to postpone the vote, accusing world football’s governing body of a lack of transparency and accountability.

Prince William, the FA’s president, and Prime Minister David Cameron both backed the FA’s stance after days of controversy surrounding allegations of corruption within the organisation.

However even Wales and Northern Ireland chose not to support England’s failed attempt to stop Mr Blatter’s “coronation” and the motion was defeated by 172 to 17.

Fifa members then lined up to attack the FA, which was looking increasingly isolated.

Senior vice-president Julio Grondona, the Argentinian head of Fifa’s finance committee, told the congress: “We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth.

“This upsets and disturbs the Fifa family.”

The criticism continued with the leaders of associations from Haiti, the Congo DR, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus all speaking out against the FA’s move.

The results of the election showed 203 out of 208 Fifa members voted, with 186 votes for Mr Blatter. He said: “I’m happy that we were able to bring today into Fifa once again this solidarity, this unity that allows us with the sufficient courage but also with a positive standpoint to move forward.”

Earlier he described himself as the captain of the ship Fifa moving out of troubled waters.

Mr Blatter’s re-election follows two of Fifa’s most senior figures being suspended on bribery charges. Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam pulled out of the race against Mr Blatter at the weekend, hours before he was provisionally banned from all football-related activities.

Executive committee member Jack Warner has also been suspended with Fifa promising a “full inquiry” into bribery allegations, which both men deny.