Blatter a Candidate for FIFA Presidency

With the support of the United States, FIFA General Secretary Sepp Blatter will announce his candidacy Monday for president of soccer’s governing body.

Blatter declined comment, but outgoing president Joao Havelange said Thursday that Blatter, his top aide, will run. Lennart Johansson of Sweden, president of the Union European of Football Associations, is the only announced candidate for the job.

Havelange, a Brazilian, is retiring in June after 24 years in office. He said Blatter, 62, will hold a news conference Monday with Michel Platini, the chairman of the local organizers of the World Cup in France. Platini will be proposed for a top job in Blatter’s administration, the German reports said.

Havelange, who has made no secret of his preference for Blatter, said numerous national federations would support Blatter.

U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg will also support Blatter and attend the news conference, a source told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.