Blatter succumbs to corruption scandal, quits as FIFA boss

President of football governing body, Sepp Blatter is set to resign as boss of the organisation amid a corruption scandal.

In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary Fifa congress “as soon as possible” to elect a new president.

“I am very much linked to Fifa and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision,” Blatter added.

“What counts most to me is the institute of Fifa and football around the world”, he said.

Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top Fifa officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution.

But he said: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody.”

Fifa was rocked last week by the arrests on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people.

A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.

 

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