'BERMUDA backs Blatter' blared the back page headline in the Bermuda Sun a couple of weeks ago.

What followed was clear indication that Bermuda Football Association would be throwing its full weight behind FIFA chief Sepp Blatter when the president of arguably the world's most powerful sporting organisation stands for re-election later this month.

BFA General Secretary David Sabir told of how Blatter's only rival in the upcoming FIFA election, Cameroon's Issa Hayatou, showed a "severe lack of respect" to his opponent at the recently concluded CONCACAF congress in Miami.

Sabir, presumably speaking on behalf of the BFA, also poured scorn on FIFA General Secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

In fairness, the BFA official was only commenting on what he witnessed first hand.

Yet now, in the wake of a slew of allegations against Blatter in the lead-up to the May 29 vote, both Sabir and other members of the local governing body's hierarchy might want to think again.

It's fast emerging that Blatter is anything but the soccer messiah he would have us believe.

Evidence is mounting to support allegations of gross financial mismanagement and vote rigging during the FIFA chief's tenure.

It's been so damning that 11 of FIFA's 24-member executive have initiated a court case against Blatter. Legal proceedings have already begun in the Swiss courts for alleged misuse of funds.

Just a few days ago the English Football Association, with whom the BFA have enjoyed particularly close ties since president Larry Mussenden and his executives came into office last summer, announced a campaign to oust Blatter.

David Dein, the FA's vice-chairman, said: "There is no way we can support Sepp Blatter while the prosecutor in Zurich is considering the serious, high-octane and possibly criminal allegations against him.

"At the moment there is such an aroma hanging over these elections that all football associations should consider their positions very carefully. Every delegate should be fully cognisant of the allegations before casting their vote. That's our position.

"The worst scenario would be for Blatter to get elected with these allegations hanging over his head. They will not go away."

Meanwhile, it's transpired that the English FA and other influential associations are fully supportive of Zen-Ruffinen, who was accused of interfering in the recent CONCACAF election and has been at odds with CONCACAF president Jack Warner for some time.

It was Zen-Ruffinen who accused Blatter of systematically mismanaging FIFA by "deception, illegal payments and cronyism," and he says he can provide the documents to prove it.

Davies said of the FIFA General Secretary: "Michel is held in very high regard. This is someone who has seen all of the evidence.

"When people start throwing mud at Michel, which they have done and will continue to do, we say 'Excuse me, this person was appointed as the General Secretary. You can't one day think he's wonderful and then the next day think he's hopeless. He's either one or the other and we suggest his record for integrity is of the highest order."

There are, of course, two sides to every story with Blatter admitting he has made mistakes but dismissing allegations of any criminal activity as "absurd".

Unfortunately, Swiss prosecutors, faced with some 300 pages of evidence, aren't expected to report on the case until some considerable time after the May 29 election.

Thus the various FIFA regions such as CONCACAF, of which the BFA is a member, need to reach their own conclusions now.

The comments of Sabir and the icy reception which Hayatou and Zen-Ruffinen received from CONCACAF in Miami last month suggest that Blatter is their man.

Hopefully, it's a decision they and others who continue to support the much-maligned president won't live to regret.

- ADRIAN ROBSON