FIFA's 209 member associations will decide on Friday whether to give Sepp Blatter a fifth term as president. The 79-year-old is the favourite to win a fifth term. He is up against Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan in the elections which will take place on Friday afternoon, despite the mass corruption scandal which has discredited his FIFA tenure.
But Prince Ali has turned from being a lame-duck candidate into a credible alternative to Blatter and the Swiss might fear that the 209-strong electorate in Zurich will turn against him. Even if Blatter wins his future is under huge threat, with UEFA considering leaving FIFA, a move which would destroy football's world governing body.
How are the votes divided?
Six federations make up Fifa, with national football associations making up each federation and total of 209 votes.
Africa (CAF): 54 votes
Europe (UEFA): 53 votes
Asia (AFC): 46 votes
North and Central America (CONCACAF): 35 votes
Oceania: 11 votes
South America (CONMEBOL): 10 votes
Who is likely to vote for whom?
Sepp Blatter has been publicly backed by the football confederations of Asia (AFC) and Africa (CAF) despite all the controversies. This means that most of their member nations are expected to vote for him.
On the other Prince Ali is the favoured candidate of UEFA, so he is likely to pick up most of the European votes. Platini on Thursday said that around 45 or 46 out of 54 European members could back him after the corruption scandal hit FIFA.
It is not quite so clear where the votes from the North American (CONCACAF) and South American (CONMEBOL) confederations will go. So this can be the deciding factor in this election. These regions have been loyal to Blatter so far but there are suggestions that at least some of their member nations will back Prince Ali.
Prince Ali himself is said to believe he has the support of 60 nations outside Europe.
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