The Football Association tried to have the election postponed yesterday but the move was heavily defeated at the FIFA Congress.

Blatter said he had been surprised at the move but would not hold it against them.

Blatter said: "I'm the president of all the associations and will work with all of them. There's no bad feeling with any of the associations that didn't vote for me. I'm the president of FIFA, and with 186 votes I'm proud. Don't worry about the English.

"The number one national association in FIFA - the FA founded the game in 1863 - have the right to be called the FA, Football Association. They should be an example, so that was a surprise.

"I had heard about it, and UEFA made a special meeting trying to convince them. I thought this problem would be solved so was surprised when they tried to change the agenda of the Congress and not make elections."

Wales and Northern Ireland both chose not to support England - in fact only the Scottish FA did so publicly and the proposal was defeated by 172 votes to 17.

After the vote, senior FIFA members Julio Grondona from Argentina and Angel Villar Llona from Spain berated the FA and the British media.

FA general secretary Alex Horne admitted he was stunned at the vitriol poured on England, saying: "Once a couple of people had got up and said it they poured more vitriol on to us.

"I was certainly surprised that Grondona and Villa Llona went on, rambling about politicians and journalists."

Horne insisted the FA's action had helped pressure Blatter to announce reforms. Meanwhile, it has emerged that at least one of the countries who voted in favour of the FA's proposal did so by mistake.

Vietnam voted 'yes' to postpone the election believing they were actually voting to proceed with the election and Blatter as the only candidate.

Britain's new FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce insists the FA now need to bring in new faces to "build bridges" following the fall-out.

Boyce, the former president of the Irish Football Association, claims there is a perception within certain FIFA circles that the FA is arrogant and says he is happy to help improve relations between the English association and the game's governing body.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "England in my opinion needs to build bridges both within UEFA and FIFA. I can assure you that I will do all in my power - if asked - to help the English FA."

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said: "I am disappointed that the election happened but now the focus must be on where FIFA goes from here.

"It's crucial that Sepp Blatter delivers on the reform that has been promised."