Sepp Blatter won a crushing victory in the FIFA presidential election today to maintain his position as the most powerful man in world football.
Blatter overcame widespread criticism of FIFA's finances and his method of ruling the organisation to beat challenger Issa Hayatou from Cameroon by 139 votes to 56.
Swiss lawyer Blatter, 66, was first elected in 1998 and will serve at least another four years.
Hayatou had campaigned on a platform promising more openness and accountability within FIFA, but failed to win over enough supporters from the 197 national associations who could vote.
Blatter achieved the two-thirds majority at the FIFA ordinary congress in Seoul, South Korea necessary to win in the first round of voting.
In his victory speech, Blatter told delegates: "I register your deep trust in FIFA and in me. You cannot imagine what it means for me, having, during the last few months been accused of what a bad man I am."
During the last three months, Blatter has been accused of financial mismanagement, paying cash for votes and making unauthorised payments.
Des Casey, Honourary Secretary of the Football Association of Ireland, said the discussion over FIFA's finances had become entangled with the election campaign.
He also described the process of borrowing money on the basis of expected revenue from the 2006 World Cup as "robbing Peter to pay Paul".
Casey added: "Mr President, in the words from the film The Godfather, it's not personal - it's business."
Earlier, English FA chief executive Adam Crozier had provoked a showdown with a powerful speech claiming the reputation of football's ruling body is in tatters saying FIFA's credibility had been severely damaged by a looming crisis in their finances.
PA