Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal

Sepp Blatter is to resign as president of world
football's governing body Fifa as reports emerge
he is under investigation in the United States.
The Swiss was re-elected last week, despite
seven top Fifa officials being arrested in a
massive corruption probe.
Announcing his shock exit, the 79-year-old Blatter,
who has been in power for 17 years, said: "My
mandate does not appear to be supported by
everybody."
He plans to carry on his duties until a
replacement can be elected.
Why stand down now?
Fifa has been dogged by corruption allegations
for years now but it was rocked to its core last
week by the arrests of seven Fifa officials on
charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money
laundering.
The charges are part of a US prosecution that
indicted a total of 14 people from around the
globe.
Further allegations emerged on Tuesday that
increased the pressure.
Reports also claimed Fifa general secretary
Jerome Valcke was responsible for an alleged
payment of a $10m (£6m) bribe in relation to
South Africa's bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
The 54-year-old Frenchman denies any
wrongdoing.
A separate criminal investigation by Swiss
authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World
Cups were allocated is also under way.
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent
Richard Conway said Blatter will not have wanted
to leave this way.
"He wanted to bring Fifa and football back
together but that ignored the huge weight of the
allegations that stood against the organisation,"
said Conway.
"In the end, Blatter's position became untenable
and we will perhaps know more in the weeks
ahead about what exactly tipped him over the
edge."
How did the news break?
The BBC's Kieran Fox was in Zurich when the
drama unfolded.
He explains what happened after media were
invited to an unscheduled news conference:
"The invitation came at 4pm local. A scramble to
Fifa HQ in the leafy hills of Zurich and still no
more details.
"The news conference was due to start at 6pm,
6.30pm, then 6.45pm. The large conference room
was barely a third full.
"At 6.45pm, a shrugging, forlorn director of
communications walked in. Mr Blatter would be
making a statement, he said.
"Blatter looked reluctant, perhaps a little sad that
40 years of his life's work was coming to an end.
"The press room was silent. No-one really
expected this just four days after winning a fifth
term as Fifa president.
"His speech lasted barely four minutes. Speech
over, he left to silence."
When will a new president be elected?
Blatter says he wants to bring forward the date
of the next Fifa congress so members can elect
his successor "as soon as possible".
It is due to take place on 13 May, 2016 in Mexico
City but Blatter says waiting until then will
"create unnecessary delay".
He added: "I will urge the executive committee to
organise an extraordinary congress for the
election of my successor at the earliest
opportunity.
"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."
The extraordinary congress is expected to take
place between December 2015 and March 2016.
Who wants to be the next Fifa president?
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein was beaten by Blatter in
last week's election as the Swiss earned a fifth
term in office.
The Jordanian has indicated he is willing to step
into the role, insisting he is "always there to
serve football".
He added: "I think that's the most important
thing and to do so much work to fix this
organisation in a proper way."
Michel Platini, president of European football's
governing body Uefa, is also being tipped as a
likely contender.
The 59-year-old Frenchman did not want to stand
against Blatter but this could be his opportunity
to make his move.
Former France international David Ginola has also
confirmed he intends to stand but his chances of
success are slim.
What are Blatter's plans?
Blatter says he stood for re-election as he felt it
was the "best option for football". When he quit,
he said he did so in Fifa's best interests.
However, he indicated his influence will not end
just yet and said his focus now was "driving far-
reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our
previous efforts".
He added: "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. We need deep-rooted structural change."
Perhaps of more immediate concern for Blatter is
the scope of the twin corruption probe,
particularly the US investigation.
US officials quoted in the New York Times said
they hoped to gain the co-operation of some Fifa
figures now under indictment to try to build a
case against the Fifa president.
"His troubles may only just be beginning," added
Conway.
How has the football world reacted?
Platini had urged Blatter to quit following the
arrests in Switzerland.
After Blatter's decision to step down, Platini said:
"It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and
the right decision."
The Football Association has been vociferous in
its criticism of Blatter.
News of his exit was welcomed by FA chairman
Greg Dyke.
"This is great news for football," he told the BBC.
"It should have happened years ago."
He added: "There has to be a root-and-branch
investigation of Fifa. It has all got to be
transparent in the future."
Former Portugal international Luis Figo, who
withdrew from the presidential election eight days
before the vote, said Blatter's exit represented "a
good day for Fifa and for football".
He added: "Change is finally coming. Now we
should, responsibly and calmly, find a consensual
solution worldwide in order to start a new era of
dynamism, transparency and democracy in Fifa."

Source: bbc sport