Fifa president Sepp Blatter has indicated he could
be replaced "in the near future" as the head of
football's world governing body by Jeffrey Webb.
Webb, a Fifa vice-president, is leader of the
confederation for North, Central America and the
Caribbean (Concacaf).
The comments to a football conference in the
Caribbean are another hint that Blatter does not want
Uefa president Michel Platini to succeed him.
Blatter, 77, has led the Zurich-based governing body
since 1998.
Speaking off-the-cuff before a speech to mark the
opening of a Concacaf sport summit, the Fifa boss was
introduced incorrectly to an audience of regional
political leaders and confederation delegates as "Fifa's
vice-president" by a local media officer.
Blatter stepped up to the lectern and replied to the
mistake by telling the media officer and assembled
guests: "I think you're a prophet."
"[There may be] a new Fifa president in the near future
and this president could be Jeffrey Webb."
After receiving applause, he added: "This would not
mean I would be vice-president. Once you have been a
horse you don't go back to the stable."
Sources close to Fifa have told BBC Sport that the
comments should not be taken as a decision by Blatter
that he will not stand as a candidate in the next
election, scheduled for May 2015, and that all options
are still open to him.
Blatter told Uefa delegates in 2011 that this would be
his final term of office but has this year given strong
indications that he may seek a fresh mandate.
The comments are the clearest indication so far that
Platini - considered by many observers to be his most
likely successor - is not the man Blatter wishes to see in
power after he has left the role.
Platini has yet to decide if he will stand in the 2015
election saying recently that he wanted more time to
consider the matter.
That leaves Jeffrey Webb - who is also yet to indicate
any intention to stand in the ballot - as Blatter's
anointed executive, having already been appointed by
him earlier this year to lead Fifa's anti-discrimination
and racism task-force.
Webb, 49, is from the Cayman Isles and was elected
president of Concacaf in May 2012 following the
acrimonious departures of former president Jack
Warner and general secretary Chuck Blazer.
Now one of seven Fifa vice-presidents, Webb started
his time in football governance as president of the
Cayman Islands Football Association in 1991.
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