Having come through another FIFA election largely unscathed, Sepp Blatter was in a typically defiant mood Saturday when addressing the challenges that still lie ahead. The 79-year-old FIFA president dismissed suggestions that a United States government investigation of corruption in football could lead to his door. Several senior FIFA officials have been arrested already, but Blatter shrugged off the notion that he could be next.

"Arrested for whatIJ Next question," Blatter said curtly when meeting international media for the first time since American and Swiss federal cases rocked FIFA's home city on Wednesday.

A busy first day of his new four-year presidential term saw the leader of the world's most popular sport scold critics and take acclaim from allies. Blatter criticized US Attorney General loretta lynch and received a congratulatory telegram from Vladimir Putin, president of 2018 World Cup host Russia.

Gone was the tension which put a tremor in his voice after Swiss police raided FIFA's favorite luxury hotel in Zurich early Wednesday. Blatter insisted he had nothing to fear from the US federal case which alleged a $150 million bribe scheme linked to broadcast rights for tournaments in North and South America. Two FIFA vice presidents were among seven men arrested.

"I do not see how FIFA could be directly affected by this," Blatter said. He was equally adamant when responding to questions about whether the probe can't still directly affect him.

Was he the "high-ranking FIFA official" mentioned in the Department of Justice indictment who wired $10 million to corrupt North American officialsIJ The apparent bribes were paid from a FIFA account in exchange for voting for South Africa as the 2010 World Cup host.

"Definitely that is not me," Blatter said. "I have no $10 million." It was clear that, after winning a closer vote than he would have liked Friday, Blatter wanted to come out fighting — first criticizing lynch in an interview with his local Swiss broadcaster.

I forgive but I don’t forget: blatter

Emboldened by his fresh mandate to lead world soccer, Sepp Blatter made it clear there may be consequences for European leaders who tried to oust him from FIFA.

"I forgive but I don't forget," Blatter said Saturday at FIFA headquarters.

The relationship between FIFA and UEFA will be one of the key issues for Blatter as he begins his fifth term as president of the governing body. UEFA President Michel Platini, who helped Blatter first gain the presidency in 1998, led opposition against his former ally.

Blatter didn't extend much of an olive branch in his first news conference since Friday's election, but did reiterate that he is "also the president of those associations that are against me." He also challenged UEFA to come back into the fold. "(UEFA) have to be an example also and not only to say, 'FIFA, what is FIFAIJ' They shall help and come in and take responsibility," Blatter said.

Repairing the relationship may not be so simple though. Following this week's arrests of senior FIFA official as part of a U.S. investigation into soccer corruption, Platini appealed directly to Blatter to stand down. That request was unequivocally rejected and Platini now has to work with Blatter for four more years.

However, the former France great said change is still crucial if FIFA "is to regain its credibility." Platini and other European officials have suggested UEFA should look into splitting with FIFA completely, although the consequences of such a drastic move would be so far-reaching that it seems highly implausible. It would bar some of soccer's biggest countries from the World Cup, and would cut off the European club game from the rest of the world.

Blatter aims to ease sponsor anger

FIFA is taking action to ease the fears of sponsors over corruption scandals, world football chief Sepp Blatter said on Saturday as he denied authorising a $10 million payment to a disgraced official.

A US indictment says that in 2008 a FIFA official authorised the payment of $10 million — an alleged bribe from South Africa — through a FIFA account to Jack Warner. "Definitely, that's not me," said Blatter. But amid widespread corporate anger over the arrest this week of seven FIFA officials accused of taking bribes, Blatter said he would make a personal visit to sponsors who have expressed concern. Credit card giant Visa said it would "reassess" its sponsorship of FIFA unless it starts "rebuilding a culture with strong ethical practices." Even after Blatter's re-election on Friday, Coca Cola called for "concrete" action "to begin winning back the trust it lost." Blatter said in a  press conference "we have had contact with the sponsors last week when such declarations came. We have exchanged letters and we start to bring back the reputation of FIFA. "I'm sure we will bring them back all in the right situation and have planned a personal visit to the organisation of these sponsors."

Blatter played down the importance of the US indictments for FIFA, insisting they involve an American marketing company.  US authorities have indicted 14 football officials over $150 million in bribes paid for sports media and marketing contracts in North and Central America.