(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter joined FIFA in 1975 and served in various roles before being appointed president in 1998.
Now, 17 years later, he's resigning his presidency.
Aileen Phillips reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
79 year old Sepp Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term just last week, two days after a corruption crisis erupted and seven soccer officials were arrested in Zurich ahead of the FIFA congress.
But now, after 17 years as President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter has agreed it's time to go.
"Although the members of FIFA have given me a new mandate, reelected me president, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football, the supporters, clubs, players, those who inspire life in football as much as we do at FIFA. This is why I will call an extraordinary congress and put at disposal my function. It is going to be held as soon as possible and a new president will be elected to follow me. I will continue to excersise my function as president of FIFA until the new elections are going to be held."
Elections are expected to take place some time between December and March.
Chairman of the English Football Association Greg Dyke says it's a welcome move.
He is questioning what the future will hold for the two World Cups - 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar - at the very centre of the corruption scandal.
"Clearly, there is something that has come out of the events of last week that has made Mr Blatter stand down, and one can only assume that is to do with the investigation either by the Swiss justice authorities or by the Attorney General in America. He is gone, we are going to get someone else. At long last we can sort out FIFA. We can go back to look at those two World Cups. If I was in Qatar today I wouldn't be feeling very confident."
FIFA's head of Audit and Compliance, Domenico Scala, explains what Sepp Blatter's resignation will mean.
"Today the President communicated his decision to all 209 members. Now it is the time for FIFA to move forward. There is significant work to be done in order to regain the trust of the public and to fundamental reform the way in which people see FIFA. These steps will ensure that the organisation can not be used by those seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of the game."
Share
