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The dreams and demands of thousands of football fans and officials were finally answered early on Wednesday morning (AEST) as FIFA president Sepp Blatter shockingly announced his resignation in front of an almost deserted press conference.
It follows a week of scandal where a number of top FIFA officials were arrested on charges on bribery, money laundering, and racketeering.
Blatter had fought off competition from Jordanian Prince Ali bin Hussein to win a fifth term as president following elections last week, and his decision comes as a big shock.
More:
» Blatter steps down from the circus
» Blatter under FBI investigation
» FFA welcomes Blatter’s resignation
» Who could replace Blatter as FIFA president?
The press conference started tamely enough with Blatter saying he “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,” Blatter continued.
“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.”
Head of audit and compliance committee Domenico Scala said the new election would occur between December and March, with the next extraordinary meeting currently scheduled for March 13 next year in Mexico City.
The resignation comes amid increasing pressure from a number of FIFA members, including FFA boss Frank Lowy and FA chairman Greg Dyke.
Dyke, who had claimed Blatter “wouldn’t last two years” of his fifth term, was clearly delighted with the announcement, saying it is “brilliant for world football”.
“Something has come out of the events of last week that has caused Mr Blatter to resign … He’s gone. At long last we can sort out FIFA. We can go back to looking at those two World Cups. If I were Qatar right now I wouldn’t be feeling very comfortable.”
Michel Platini, UEFA’s president who had also called for Blatter to step down, said that, “it was a difficult decision. A brave decision. The right decision.”
Platini is widely considered as a frontrunner to replace the departing Blatter as president of FIFA.
Blatter had previously questioned suggestions that he should stand down, suggesting any such action “would mean I recognise that I did wrong.”
He will remain president, a role he has held for 17 years, until the new elections, which will be held at an extraordinary meeting to be decided by FIFA executives.
“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,” Blatter said.
“We need deep-rooted structural change. This time, I will succeed. I cannot do this alone.”
“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”
The future of FIFA’s World Cup tournaments in Russia and Qatar will surely come under question now that Blatter has stepped down, however possible incumbent Platini was a supporter of the Qatar bid.
The decision also raises questions about whether Michael J. Garcia’s report into allegations of corruption in world association football will be released in full.
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