Sepp Blatter to resign as head of Fifa
FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday surprised the football world by announcing that he would resign his position. Speaking in Zurich, he said: “I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football,” listing fans, players and clubs among his critics. Blatter’s statement drew relief and further criticism from prominent football figures such as Uefa president Michel Platini, a favourite to replace him, and Greg Dyke, FA chairman, who said that despite the resignation, “it should have happened years ago.” Fifa will vote on a new president at a special congress that Blatter said would be held “at the earliest opportunity” – likely to be between December 2015 and March 2016.