Fifa boss Blatter seeks African backing over election

Incumbent Sepp Blatter has been seeking the backing of African nations to ensure Fifa's presidential elections go ahead

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been seeking the backing of African nations to ensure Wednesday's Fifa presidential election goes ahead as planned.

English Football Association chairman David Bernstein has called for Fifa to postpone its vote scheduled for Wednesday 1 June.

Blatter is the only candidate running after Mohamed Bin Hammam's withdrawal.

The FA needs the backing of 75% of the world's 208 football associations for the motion to be approved.

Blatter addressed African delegates, who will be at Wednesday's congress, at their hotel in Zurich on Tuesday morning.

It appeared to be a pre-emptive strike at those seeking a postponement as he sought the African support to ensure the polls would go ahead as planned even before The FA announced their intentions.

Earlier this month the Confederation of African Football said it would be backing Blatter for re-election.

However the individual football associations across the continent are free to vote as they please.