Fifa crisis: Director of communications Walter De Gregorio stands down

Walter De Gregorio, Fifa's director of communications, will step down from his role "with immediate effect" according to the football governing body.

 

This comes a fortnight after he described the FBI-led arrests of senior figures as "a good day" for Fifa. He was appointed to the role four years ago and acted as a senior aide to Sepp Blatter, the former President who stepped down last week. 

 

“Walter De Gregorio has decided to relinquish his office with immediate effect as Director of Communications & Public Affairs," Fifa said in a statement. "Mr De Gregorio will serve Fifa on a consultancy basis until the end of this year.”

 

Yesterday, bidding for the 2026 tournament was suspended in light of the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into corruption.

 

Chuck Blazer, a former Fifa official, admitted last week that he accepted bribes for World Cup bids. In his guilty plea during a secret 2013 hearing in New York, Blazer said he and others on Fifa's executive committee had accepted bribes for the 2010 and 1998 World Cups.