Barely four days after the 65th Federation of International Football (FIFA) elective congress at Zurich confirmed Sepp Blatter as the world football body president, the 79 year old Swiss has he will lay down his mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress.
Blatter who has been at the helm of the body for the last 17 years made the shocking statement during a specially arranged press conference on Tuesday.
FIFA is being marred by several corruption scandals.
Blatter said that the scandal-tainted FIFA needs “profound reconstruction” and that he had “thoroughly reconsidered” his presidency since his reelection.
The vote does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football.”
He added.
His resignation came less than a week after Swiss police arrested seven FIFA officials, including two vice presidents, at a Zurich hotel.
The arrests were carried out on behalf of US prosecutors who accuse the seven, and eight other suspects, of involvement in $150 million of bribes.
An Extraordinary Congress will be called to elect Blatter’s successor, which will take place between December 2015 and March 2016.
Critics and allies alike agree on one thing: Blatter has been a consummate politician who has survived 17 years of scandal, accusations of corruption and the rise and fall of internal political challengers.
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) attended the 65th FIFA congress and openly expressed their overwhelming support for Sepp Blatter.
The FIFA President also announced a significant reform programme to be driven by Domenico Scala, the Independent Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee.