FIFA President Blatter resigns
Sepp Blatter has resigned as president of
football's governing body Fifa 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.
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.
"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," added Blatter.
"What counts most to me is the
institute of Fifa and football around the world."
In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary Fifa congress "as soon as possible" to elect a new president.
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