Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA president

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Sepp Blatter on Tuesday, June 2, resigned as president of FIFA as a mounting corruption scandal engulfed world football’s governing body.

The 79-year-old Swiss official, FIFA president for 17 years and only reelected on Friday, May 29, said the scandal-tainted FIFA needs “profound reconstruction” and that he had “thoroughly reconsidered” his presidency since his reelection. Blatter said the vote “does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football.”

Agence France-Presse reported that Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who lost to Blatter in last week, will stand in the new election. Ali has the support of the United States and Europe.

The Jordanian prince withdrew from the race after the first round of voting at the Zurich congress.

Blatter beat him by 133 votes to 73 in the first round, with rock solid support from Asia and Africa seeing him through.

(READ: Calls for FIFA’s Blatter to quit as global anger builds)

Blatter has been part of the scandal-ridden FIFA as president for almost 4 decades. His reign has been characterized as “dominating (if not domineering),” by the New York Times. 

“Think of it this way,” wrote Sam Borden and James Montague, “How many people can arrive in virtually any country with a minimum of pomp or protocol and then request an audience with the head of state, and receive one?”

‘Great for football’

Blatter’s resignation came less than a week after Swiss police arrested 7 FIFA officials, including two vice presidents, at a Zurich hotel.

The arrests were carried out on behalf of US prosecutors who accuse the 7, and 8 other suspects, of involvement in $150 million of bribes.

In his resignation statement, Blatter said that he believed he still retained the mandate 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 Swiss official 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.”

‘Brilliant’ news

Critics were quick to welcome Blatter’s shock announcement, though some praised him.

“It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision,” said Platini, a former ally who last week told the FIFA president to his face that he should leave.

English Football Association chief Greg Dyke, one of the fiercest critics of the FIFA leader, said the resignation was “brilliant for world football” and reason to “celebrate”.

Acting CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit – who last week replaced former chief Jeffrey Webb, one of those charged in the United States and arrested in Switzerland – said his organization was ready to help rebuild FIFA.

“We are at an important moment for the game, a moment that we must not squander,” said Hawit, who runs the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, a member of the FIFA executive and both a key figure in the 2018 World Cup and supporter of Blatter’s, said the resignation came as a “complete shock” but was intended to preserve FIFA’s unity.

Key sponsors welcomed Blatter’s resignation. Coca-Cola called the move “a positive step for the good of sport, football and its fans.”

Credit card giant Visa, which warned it might withdraw its sponsorship, said Blatter’s resignation was “a significant first step towards rebuilding public trust” but added: “More work lies ahead.”

Scandal never far away

Blatter has been with FIFA for 40 years, moving up from a marketing official to secretary general in 1981 and president in 1998. He took over from Joao Havelange, whose long reign was also overshadowed by scandal.

The Swiss official took over an international federation facing financial difficulties and turned it into a money-spinning operation that, between the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, made $5.7 billion (5.3 billion euros). FIFA now has a cash mountain of $1.5 billion.

But since the first day, scandal has never been far from his office. There were allegations over the vote that elected him in 1998 and the collapse of the ISL sports marketing giant also triggered a crisis at FIFA.

The past four years have been his toughest, however. The day after the December 2010 vote that awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups triggered widespread accusations of bribery.

Qatar has strongly denied any wrongdoing but one senior Qatari official, a FIFA vice president, was banned for life amid accusations that he gave bribes.

“It is my deep care for FIFA and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision,” Blatter said.

“What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner.”

Blatter, stolid throughout the 10-minute appearance, then shook the hand of a member of his staff and walked back to his office without taking a question.

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Sepp Blatter’s full resignation letter:

“I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football. I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football. I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but FIFA’s challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul.

“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.

“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.

“The next ordinary FIFA Congress will take place on 13 May 2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and 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.

“Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that elections inevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts. 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.

“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.

“The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its members should be elected through the FIFA Congress. The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations. We need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the Executive Committee.

“I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked. This time, I will succeed.

“I cannot do this alone. I have asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction and implementation of these and other measures. Mr. Scala is the Independent Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee elected by the FIFA Congress. He is also the Chairman of the ad hoc Electoral Committee and, as such, he will oversee the election of my successor. Mr. Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of constituents within and outside of FIFA and has all the knowledge and experience necessary to help tackle these major reforms.

“It is my deep care for FIFA and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision. I would like to thank those who have always supported me in a constructive and loyal manner as President of FIFA and who have done so much for the game that we all love. What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner.”

  – with reports from Agence France-Presse / Rappler.com