FIFA
President Sepp Blatter has announced in Zurich that he intends to resign, just
four days after being re-elected to a fifth term amid a corruption scandal.
Deutsche Welle, 2 June 2015
Blatter,
the world football body's top 79-year-old official, announced his decision
unexpectedly during a hastily arranged news conference. On stage, the Swiss was
accompanied only by FIFA's communications director.
Blatter
said an extraordinary FIFA congress would be called to elect his successor
"as soon as possible." It would be organized by FIFA's executive
committee, he added.
He said he
would continue to exercise his functions as president until that special
election - prior to FIFA's next congress due in Mexico City on May 13, 2016. He
gave no specific date during his 10-minute appearance.
"I
have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I
will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that
election," Blatter said.
"This
will need to be done in line with FIFA's statutes and we must allow enough time
for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign," he said.
"Since
I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that
elections inevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching,
fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts," Blatter said.
"For
years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is
plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough," he
added.
 |
| Restoration of trust needed, says Scala |
FIFA's
compliance committee chairman Domenico Scala said four-months' notice was
required for an fresh election under the world body's statute.
"There
is significant work to be done to regain the trust of the public," said
Scala at the news conference after Blatter had spoken.
Controversy
aknowledged
Referring
to turmoil surrounding his re-election, Blatter said his mandate had been
called into question.
"While
I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a
mandate from the entire world of football - the fans, the players, the clubs,
the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at
FIFA," Blatter said.
Blatter
said FIFA "has been my life...what counts most for me is FIFA and football
around the world."
Blatter
'not under investigation'
Reuters
quoted Switzerland's office of attorney general (OAG) as saying that it was not
investigating Blatter.
"Joseph
S. Blatter is not under investigation by the OAG. His announced resignation
will have no influence on the ongoing criminal proceedings," the office
said in a brief statement.
Last week,
Swiss authorities opened investigations against persons unknown alongside a far
wider US corruption probe into FIFA.
Denial on
Valcke
Earlier on
Tuesday, FIFA had denied that Blatter's right-hand man, Secretary-General
Jerome Valcke, was implicated in a $10 million (9.1 million euros) payment at
the heart of the US investigation.
Seven
soccer officials were arrested in Zurich last Wednesday, pending possible
extradition requests from the US.
In all, US
authorities said nine officials and five sports media and promotions executives
were charged in cases spanning 24 years.
The US
Justice Department on Tuesday said it would have no comment on Blatter's
announcement.
Reactions
from critics
In a first
reaction, UEFA president Michel Platini, who last week called on Blatter to
quit, welcomed Blatter's announcement: "It was a difficult decision. A
brave decision. The right decision."
One of
Blatter's chief critics, English FA chief Greg Dyke said Blatter's move was
"great for football," claiming that Blatter had realized that the
mounting scandal "was getting close to him."
Prince Ali
likely to run
A senior
Jordanian football official was quoted by the news agency AFP as saying that
Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who challenged Blatter in last Friday's vote, would
be a candidate in the fresh election.
 |
| Jordan's association says Prince Ali is "ready" |
On CNN
television, the prince declined to confirm candidacy but said: "I am at
the disposal of all the national associations who want a change, including all
those who were afraid to make a change."
The
Jordanian prince, who is also a FIFA vice president, had withdrawn from last
Friday's race after the first round of voting at the Zurich congress.
Blatter won
that first round, with solid support from Asia and Africa confederations.
Multi-billion
operation
The former
marketing official rose to become FIFA president in 1998 and turned FIFA into a
multi-billion dollar operation.
In recent
months, Blatter had defiantly held off resignation calls amid controversies
over the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to Russia and Qatar
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