FIFA Update: Europe's UEFA Backs Blatter's Opponent; Raids In Brazil

One day after a string of bribery arrests and indictments was revealed to center on FIFA, the soccer organization's president, Sepp Blatter, says he will not resign. Accusations of rampant corruption at FIFA emerged just two days before Blatter is set to stand for re-election.

One day after a string of bribery arrests and indictments was revealed to center on FIFA, the soccer organization's president, Sepp Blatter, says he will not resign. Accusations of rampant corruption at FIFA came just days before Blatter stands for reelection in Switzerland Friday.

The dozens of criminal charges unveiled Wednesday have stoked long-simmering suspicions about corruption in soccer's governing body. On Thursday, the leader of Europe's umbrella soccer organization, UEFA, said many of its member associations will support the lone challenger to Blatter in Friday's election, Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.

The dozens of criminal charges have stoked long-simmering suspicions about corruption in soccer's governing body. In response, Europe's umbrella organization, UEFA, has called for postponing Friday's vote – and today, its leader announced that many of its member associations will support Jordan's PrinceAli Bin Al Hussein, the lone challenger to Blatter.

"Enough is enough," UEFA President Michel Platini said. He added, "I am disgusted."

"Enough is enough," UEFA President Michel Platini said. He added, "I am disgusted."

UEFA's announcement came after its call to postpone the vote was rebuffed.

Describing a talk he had with Blatter, Platini said, "He already lost. FIFA already lost."

Speaking about Blatter, Platini said at a news conference Thursday that "he already lost. FIFA already lost."

In a news conference held Thursday, Platini described how Blatter was "affected" by their talk, in which Platini says he spoke to the embattled FIFA leader as an old friend.

When he was later asked whether UEFA would consider withdrawing from FIFA, Platini said, "Of course."

It's a startling turnabout for both Blatter and FIFA, which earlier this year announced that in the years from 2011 to 2014, it brought in revenue of $5.7 billion against expenses of $5.38 billion.

As of Thursday, Blatter "says he has no intention of resigning," the BBC reports.

Update at 12 p.m. ET: Blatter Speaks At FIFA Congress

As FIFA's international sessions begin in Zurich with an opening ceremony Thursday, Blatter tells the audience that corrupt actions "bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all."

He also said he can't be expected to know what every FIFA official is up to. Read more from Blatter in our separate post.

Our original story continues:

Platini said that when he asked Blatter to step down, the FIFA leader answered that it's now too late — but that he might have agreed to resign had he been asked earlier.

Blatter was "affected" by their talk, said Platini, who added that he had spoken to Blatter as an old friend.

It's a startling turnabout for both Blatter and FIFA, which earlier this year announced that from 2011 to 2014, it brought in revenue of $5.7 billion against expenses of $5.38 billion. Television rights represent 43 percent of that total; marketing, 29 percent.

On Wednesday, U.S. and Swiss authorities announced arrests, indictments and investigations into alleged bribery and kickbacks, with the U.S. inquiry naming nine senior FIFA officials and several sports marketing executives. A separate Swiss investigation includes the process of choosing host cities for two upcoming World Cup tournaments, in Russia and Qatar.