David Beckham blasts “despicable, unacceptable” Fifa and calls for change
David Beckham has slammed Fifa over the "despicable" allegations of corruption which have dogged the organisation in recent days.
Read more: US Fifa investigation includes 2018 and 2022 World Cups
The former England captain – a key figure in the country's failed 2018 World Cup bid – celebrated president Sepp Blatter's announcement that he intends to resign as president of Fifa.
In a strongly worded statement the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star argued that Fifa could now move in "the right direction".
Beckham said:
I hope at last we are now moving in the right direction. Some of the things that we now know happened were despicable, unacceptable and awful for the game that we love so much. Football is not owned by a few individuals at the top, it belongs to the millions of people around the world who love this sport.
It is time for Fifa to change and we should all welcome it.
Blatter announced on Tuesday that he would step down as Fifa president following a scandal-struck few days in which a number of Fifa officials were arrested on charges of bribery.