FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that he will resign amid the series of corruption scandals that have engulfed the world's football governing body. The news comes as a shock just days after Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president by an overwhelming victory in Switzerland last week.
In the wake of his re-election he had vehemently denied that the scandals had anything to do with him and had brushed off repeated calls from fans and Uefa officials for him to stand down.
In announcing his resignation, Blatter called for another election as soon as possible to find his replacement.
Last week seven top FIFA officials were arrested by police in Switzerland just two days before the presidential vote, in a move sparked by U.S. prosecutors.
In stepping down Blatter said, "Although the members of Fifa gave me a new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world of football - the supporters, clubs, players and those who inspire in football as much as we did at Fifa. This is why I will call an extraordinary congress to be held as soon as possible for a new president elected to follow me with a new election held."
When Blatter, 79, was re-elected last week he was stepping up for his fifth term. However, at a very quickly arranged news conference on Tuesday, Blatter admitted that "FIFA needs a profound restructuring."
He said that he felt a lack of support from people in the football world, and did not want to wait until the next FIFA congress, which is scheduled to take place in Mexico in 2016.
Blatter also added, "[The] interests of FIFA are very dear to me and that is why I have taken this decision…What counts to me is FIFA and football around the world."
"By stepping down [it will] allow FIFA to go further than ever before in terms of reform," he said.
Meanwhile, the former England FA Chairman David Bernstein has told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I said all the way through this man is not a man who resigns easy so I just wonder if something has got to him. There will be good candidates out there. We need someone who can unite the whole world. We need a real election with genuine candidates and a real choice."
It is likely that another FIFA vote, for Blatter's replacement, will not be able to take place until somewhere between December 2015 and March 2016.
Blatter said, "The next congress of Fifa is on May 13 in Mexico and if we waited until then it will only delay matters. I will ask the organising executive committee to organise extraordinary congress to elect a successor.
"The procedure is to be carried out in accordance within Fifa statutes and sufficient time allocated to find best possible candidates. I will not stand I am free from the constraints of an election."
