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ZURICH, Switzerland, May 28 (UPI) -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter is refusing calls for his resignation, as pressure mounts to restore the soccer giant's integrity, amid indictments accusing FIFA officials and sports marketing executives of bribery and other corruption charges. Blatter spoke publicly for the first time since the scandal erupted when FIFA's congress opened on Thursday, stating the organization must police itself.
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"We cannot allow the reputation of FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer," Blatter said. "It has to stop here and now."
"The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football, and over this week's Congress. The actions of individuals, if proven, bring shame and humiliation on football and demand reaction from us all... I know a lot of people hold me responsible for the actions and reputations of the global football community, whether it is the decision of hosting a World Cup or a corruption scandal," he said.
"We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it. But it must also fall to me to be responsible for the reputation of our entire organization, and to find a way to fix things... I will not allow the actions of a few to damage the reputation of FIFA," he added.
Michael Platini, head of the Union of European Football Associations commonly known as UEFA, personally asked Blatter to quit. Blatter refused, but he faces a re-election vote on Friday.
Platini said he was "disgusted" by the corruption scandal and that he and a "very, very big majority of European national associations" will vote for Blatter's opponent, Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein.
Top FIFA officials and some sports marketing executives were indicted on charges filed by U.S. Department of Justice. Seven were arrested Wednesday at a hotel in Zurich.
"Today FIFA is no longer strong. People have had enough. People don't want [Blatter] any more," Platini said at a news conference. "It's not easy to tell a friend that he must leave. I'm saying this with sadness, with tears in my eyes... There have been too many scandals."
UK Prime Minister David Cameron also called for Blatter's resignation.
Blatter, 79, held an emergency meeting with officials of six confederations in Zurich on Thursday, where he told the FIFA members he will not be stepping down.
The charges announced Wednesday by the Justice Department accuse 14 people of "racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants' participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer."
Swiss authorities are planning to interview 10 FIFA executives as part of a separate investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process for Russia and Qatar, respectively.
Blatter, who has served as FIFA president since 1998, was not charged. He was expected to win re-election before the scandal erupted.
"Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game," Blatter wrote in a statement. "We will continue to work with the relevant authorities, and we will work vigorously within FIFA in order to root out any misconduct, to regain your trust and ensure that football worldwide is free from wrongdoing."
UEFA, which has called for the election to be delayed six months, may call for an extraordinary general meeting and for a vote of no confidence if Blatter wins by a small margin.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is another high-profile official urging a delay in the election.
The Confederation of African Football said it opposes any delay. President of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou will be interviewed by Swiss authorities as part of the broader investigation.
In response to the charges, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of attempting to expand its jurisdiction and of attempting to stop Blatter's re-election. The 2018 World Cup is set to be hosted in Russia.
Meanwhile, VISA, a major sponsor, has threatened to back out of its deal with FIFA.
"Our disappointment and concern with FIFA in light of [Wednesday's] developments is profound," VISA said in a statement. "As a sponsor, we expect FIFA to take swift and immediate steps to address these issues within its organization. This starts with rebuilding a culture with strong ethical practices in order to restore the reputation of the games for fans everywhere... Should FIFA fail to do so, we have informed them that we will reassess our sponsorship."
Budweiser, Coca-Cola and Gazprom are other major FIFA sponsors calling for the organization to take immediate action to restore its damaged reputation.
Guinea-Bissau Football Association president Manuel Nascimento Lopes said it was "blasphemy" to blame Blatter for the conduct of others.
"I'm a Christian and this is blasphemy," Nascimento told Inside World Football. "It's a state conspiracy. People are always trying to knock Blatter. Africa will vote for Mr. Blatter, and I will follow that. I agree at some point there has to be change, but let Blatter finish his mandate and see what he does... Tomorrow we are going to vote for Blatter. How do we know anyone else would be any better?"
