ZURICH – Sepp Blatter resigned yesterday as president of FIFA in a stunning capitulation to critics as the weight of corruption scandals threatened world football’s governing body.
“I don’t feel I have a mandate from the entire world of football,” Blatter, 79, calmly told a press conference at FIFA headquarters just four days after winning a fifth term.
The Swiss official, who has ruled the world’s most powerful sports federation for 17 years, said he would remain in charge until a special congress can choose a new leader. He vowed to pursue strong reforms in that time.
But the New York Times and ABC News, citing unnamed sources, said Blatter was also the focus of an FBI investigation.
Some opponents said the world should “celebrate” Blatter’s departure.
But UEFA president Michel Platini, who had called for Blatter’s resignation, hailed the “brave decision.” Sponsors such as Coca-Cola called the move “positive”.
The arrest of seven FIFA officials in a luxury Zurich hotel last Wednesday unleashed the latest corruption storm to hit the organisation’s leader.
“I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation,” he said on a day in which new revelations about dubious payments increased pressure.
“That election is over but FIFA’s challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul,” Blatter added.
“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.”
The seven detained last week are among 14 football officials and sports marketing executives accused by US prosecutors over more than $150 million in bribes.
The raid was accompanied by the launch of a Swiss police investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to Russia and Qatar.
Blatter had repeatedly pleaded his innocence and that of FIFA over the corruption.
“The executive committee includes representatives of confederations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions FIFA is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change,” he reaffirmed in his statement.
