Sepp Blatter is resisting calls to step aside as FIFA President.
Instead, the defiant 79 year old Swiss is seeking re-election for a fifth term at a vote over the weekend.
It comes as the world's most popular sport was plunged into turmoil after seven senior FIFA officials were arrested on US corruption charges.
Swiss authorities also launched a separate a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups in 2018 and 2022
Santilla Chingaipe takes a look at Blatter's legacy and what impact the scandal will have on the sport's governing body.
Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter joined FIFA in 1975 and served in various roles before being appointed president in 1998.
According to FIFA, under his leadership the former footballer has ensured that the World Cup could be staged in all parts of the world.
It says that resulted in Asia hosting the cup for the first time when it was held jointly by Japan and South Korea.
Africa also staged the tournament for the first time under his tenure when South Africa won the bid to host it in 2010.
FIFA says Blatter has played a key role in promoting the growth of women's football.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Blatter has conceded that corruption scandal has hurt the organisation.
"You will agree with me these are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA. The events have cast a long shadow over football."
But he still believes that he is the right man to continue to lead the organisation.
"I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community whether it is a decision of the hosting of a World Cup or the corruption scandal. We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong they will also try to hide it. But it must also fall to me to bear the responsibility for the reputation and wellbeing of our organisation and to find a way forward to fix things."
Despite this, many believe that in order to ensure there is reform within FIFA, Blatter simply has to go.
One of those is the President of the German Football Association Wolfgang Niersbach.
"I mean no. But it's time for change. It's not a question if he is in some cases, if he is guilty or not guilty, involved or not involved. It's time for change because we need FIFA as an institution with credibility, with integrity and that is difficult, maybe impossible to rewin these values if you don't have a change at the top."
Football commentor Les Murray agrees.
"I think that a lot of damage has been done. And I think that the best way forward is without Sepp Blatter because as much as he's not part of the criminal investigations, he was the boss while all of this was going on, he carries that label. And generally there won't be satisfaction or conviction that everything is squeaky clean in FIFA, so long as he is in charge."
The only challenger to Blatter's presidency is Jordan's Prince Ali-Bin al-Hussein.
He believes he is the right man to lead FIFA.
"Well I've been in football for a number of years and on the executive committee of FIFA for the last four years. And after talking to colleagues from across the football world and I'm talking about fans, players as well as member associations; I think that we all agree that it is time now for a change to have a FIFA, a transparent FIFA to work on the sport itself, on development and I cannot see myself being a member of the executive for another four years under the present circumstances and I'm willing to take the challenge."
He says the scandal had put the future of the organisation at stake.
And he says it will take a lot for FIFA to recover from it.
"Of course, transparency is a word often used, now it needs to be implemented, and I would definitely want to guarantee that happens. We should have nothing to hide, it's the world's most popular sport and it belongs to the world as a whole. We should restore confidence in this organisation. As much as football is loved around the world, unfortunately, the reputation is the opposite and that will be only to the benefit of the sport, so, for sure, that is the key in the future of FIFA."
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