Blatter: Soccer is a victim of own popularity

LIBREVILLE, Gabon — FIFA president Sepp Blatter says soccer has become a victim of its own popularity after a series of match-fixing scandals in the past year.

Speaking after attending the Confederation of African Football's general assembly on Friday, the head of world soccer suggests the problem is becoming an increasingly widespread worry for FIFA.

Blatter says match-fixing is "not a regional phenomenon" and "has to be stopped."

But despite the sport's recent corruption-tarnished image, the FIFA president still insists "football is faring well."

Blatter is in Gabon to attend the annual CAF meeting as well as the African Cup of Nations final between Ivory Coast and Zambia on Sunday.