Both he and his rival for the top job, Qatari Mohamed bin Hammam, faced a FIFA ethics committee looking at claim and counter claims surrounding the bribery allegations.
But as Europe correspondent Philip Williams reports, it now looks likely Sepp Blatter will be re-elected unopposed on Wednesday.
PHILIP WILLIAMS: The allegation is that Mohamed bin Hammam, in cahoots with Jack Warner and two others, offered bribes of up to $40,000 each to Caribbean Football Union members to support bin Hammam's campaign to win FIFA's presidency.
Mohamed bin Hammam was saying little as he arrived for the ethics committee hearing.
REPORTER: Mr bin Hammam.
MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM: Good morning.
REPORTER: Did you offer cash bribes to any members?
MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM: You have to wait until six o'clock my dear friend.
REPORTER: But did you offer any cash bribes to anyone?
MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM: Six o' clock.
PHILIP WILLIAMS: For hours behind closed doors the evidence was sifted, including a counter claim that Sepp Blatter knew of the allegations but did nothing - itself potentially career killing if proven.
Even before the ethics committee met, Mohamed bin Hammam's campaign for the presidency was over. He withdrew from the race posting a statement on his website that included:
EXTRACT FROM MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM'S STATEMENT: I cannot allow the name that I love to be dragged more and more in the mud because of competition between two individuals. It is for this reason that I announce my withdrawal from the presidential election. I will not put my personal ambition ahead of FIFA's dignity and integrity.
PHILIP WILLIAMS: But his own dignity and integrity were certainly up for discussion before the ethics committee. The result - Sepp Blatter cleared. They accepted his explanation that while he had told him about the bribes, he had advised against them.
But for bin Hammam and three others a bad day was about to get worse.
Ethics committee chairman, Petrus Damaseb.
PETRUS DAMASEB: In the respect of Mr bin Hammam is hereby provisionally banned from taking part in any kind of football related activity at national, international level until the FIFA ethics committee will reach a decision on the merits in this matter.
PHILIP WILLIAMS: There will now be a full investigation into the whole affair but nothing, it appears, will stop the vote for president set down for Wednesday. The only candidate left standing is Sepp Blatter.
Jerome Valcke sees no reason to delay.
JEROME VALCKE: I don't see what, what you can say which is wrong by keeping this election but if you are asking me if I am fine and if I'm happy to see Mr Blatter to be re-elected, yes.
PHILIP WILLIAMS: Already the British sports minister has openly called for a new body to run world football. Today's result may fuel that demand but it will take collective political wills from around the world to make that a reality and so far, while it appears many members are deeply unhappy with the way FIFA is run, not enough are putting their hands up to change it.
This is Philip Williams in London reporting for AM.
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