FIFA president Sepp Blatter has appealed for "unity" and "transparency" to beat corruption in football's governing body.

Mr Blatter opened the 65th FIFA congress by urging members to "change" the organisation from the inside and embrace "fair play".

He has rejected calls to quit after allegations of "rampant, systemic and deep-rooted corruption" engulfed the organisation.

Instead he is pressing on with his attempt to win a fifth term by defeating Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan.

He told delegates today that the arrest of seven top officials in Zurich on Wednesday had unleashed a "storm".

But he added: "Today I appeal for a team spirit, unity, so we can advance together. It may not be easy but that is why we are here today."

His determination to succeed comes as the heads of UEFA and the FA both said they were now open to a European boycott of the World Cup.

Whether or not Mr Blatter gets the opportunity to lead the organisation once more will be up to FIFA's 209 associations.

They will vote later today after both candidates have had the chance to address delegates at the congress.

If either candidate gets two-thirds of the votes in the first round (139 votes) then they will win outright. That result is expected between 3 and 4pm.

If this does not happen, the winner will be whoever gains more votes in the second round.

Michel Platini, the head of UEFA, has estimated at least 45 UEFA members might vote for Prince Ali.

The United States, Canada and Australia have said they will back Mr Blatter's opponent.

New Zealand Football's chief executive has also said Mr Blatter is not guaranteed the support of the 11 member nations of the Oceania Football Confederation.

Sky's Enda Brady spoke to Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland, John Delaney, in Zurich:

Enda Brady spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, and says he will be amazed if the vote does not go Blatter's way today:

Charges

The vote comes amid what Mr Blatter called "unprecedented and difficult times" for FIFA.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice charged 14 people over alleged bribes totalling more than $150m (€136m) paid for television rights, sponsorship deals and World Cup votes.

Seven officials have so far been arrested, including Jeffrey Webb, a FIFA vice-president from the Cayman Islands who holds a British passport, and fellow vice-president, Eugenio Figueredo from Uruguay.

Swiss authorities are also investigating the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

They will question 10 current FIFA executive committee members who took part in the 2010 vote.

Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner left a Trinidad jail by ambulance, a day after he was charged in the case.

Warner, 72, complained of exhaustion and was not able to face questions from reporters gathered for several hours outside the jail.

But a short while later, Warner donned a cap and a garland of flowers to give a lengthy, defiant speech before a crowd of raucous supporters.

"If I have been thiefing FIFA money for 30 years, who give me the money? How come he is not charged? Why only persons from Third World countries have been charged?" Warner said.

Warner faces eight counts in the US, including conspiracy to defraud and to engage in racketeering.

Possible boycott

The developments have led to UEFA, European football's governing body, to call for Mr Blatter to step aside.

Michel Platini, the head of UEFA, has also suggested he is open to boycotting the World Cup if Mr Blatter is re-elected.

Those calls were echoed by FA chairman Greg Dyke who backed the idea of a co-ordinated European boycott of the World Cup.

"What there is no point in is one or two countries saying 'We're not going to take part' because they will carry on with the tournament without them and that is pretty unfair on the fans," Mr Dyke told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"But if Uefa as a group said 'Look, unless you get this sorted we are not going to be in the World Cup' then I think that we would join them."

Mr Dyke said things "look ominous" for Mr Blatter and suggested that, even if he won today's election, his time as president would be limited.

"I hope he doesn't win but if he does I think the events of this week have turned him into a diminished figure and I can't see him lasting more than a year or two," he said.

Originally posted at 8.44am