The whole footballing world, barring the actual organisations that actually run the sport, might want Sepp Blatter to end his hold on FIFA, but, unless there is a dramatic change in voting, it looks like the Swiss will hold fort again to clinch a fifth term as the president.
During the FIFA Congress on Friday, the FIFA Presidential Elections will also take place in Zurich where the 209 member states place one vote each to elect the president of the troubled governing body of football.
After the scandal broke out earlier this week, where several top FIFA officials were arrested, calls from several quarters were made for Blatter to step down, but in his speech to open the FIFA Congress on Thursday, he showed those calls had clearly fallen on deaf years.
"These are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA," Blatter said in his speech on Thursday. "The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this week's Congress. The actions of these individuals, if proven, bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all.
"We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer. It has to stop here. I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community – whether it is a decision for the hosting of the World Cup or a corruption scandal.
"We cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it. But it must fall to me to bear the responsibility for the reputation and well-being of our organisation and to find a way forward to fix things. I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work and integrity of the vast majority of those who work so hard for football.
"I must stress that those who are corrupt in football are in a tiny minority, like in society.
"Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to begin on what will be a long and difficult road to rebuilding trust. We have lost that trust and we must now earn it back."
Opposing Blatter for the FIFA president post is Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, who heads the football organisation of his country and also founded the Western Asian Football Federation.
While almost the entire UEFA has backed Prince Ali in their attempts to unseat Blatter, it will be the other associations that will decide the fate of Blatter and the elections.
"People have had enough," UEFA president Michel Platini, previously an ally of Blatter, said. "They no longer want the president. I am the first to be disgusted.
"A very, very big majority of UEFA associations will vote for Prince Ali, a minimum of 45 or 46 out of 53 and I will try to convince more."
The voting will be done by a secret ballot, with the candidates needing two-thirds of the vote in the first round for victory. However if that margin is not established in the first round, a straight majority will suffice for the candidate to win the FIFA Presidential Elections in the second round.
Where to Watch Live
The FIFA Congress will continue from 9.30 am local time (1 pm IST, 8.30 am BST, 3.30 am ET) with the elections being held sometime during the Congress. Viewers across the world can watch the FIFA Congress unfold on Friday via live streaming online on FIFA.com.
