Zurich, Jun 3: Sepp Blatter on Tuesday resigned as president of Fifa in a stunning capitulation to critics as a mounting corruption scandal engulfed world football’s governing body.
“I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation,” he said. “That election is over but Fifa’s challenges are not. Fifa needs a profound overhaul,” he added.
Blatter did not mention the corruption storm from less than a week ago, but said: “While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel 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. Therefore, 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 has defiantly held off resignation calls for many months amid rows over the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to Russia and Qatar and over bribes allegedly taken by top football officials.
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