FIFA President,Sepp Blatter Resigns

 ‘I have been
reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my
life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football. I
cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and
for football.
‘I 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.
‘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.
‘The next ordinary FIFA Congress will take place on 13 May
2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the
Executive Committee to organise an Extraordinary Congress for the election of
my successor at the earliest opportunity.
‘This will need to be done in line with FIFA’s statutes and
we just allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to
campaign.
‘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.
‘For years, we have worked hard to put in place
administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue,
they are not enough.
‘The Executive Committee includes representatives of
confederations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions FIFA is held
responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change.
‘The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its
members should be elected through the FIFA Congress.
‘The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members
must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations. We
need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the
Executive Committee.
‘I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone
knows, my efforts have been blocked.
‘This time, I will succeed. I cannot do this alone. I have
asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction and implementation of these
and other measures.
‘The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members
must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations. We
need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the
Executive Committee.
‘I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone
knows, my efforts have been blocked.
‘This time, I will succeed. I cannot do this alone. I have
asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction and implementation of these
and other measures.
‘Domenico Scala is the Independent Chairman of our Audit and
Compliance Committee elected by the FIFA Congress.
‘He is also the Chairman of the ad hoc Electoral Committee
and, as such, he will oversee the election of my successor.
‘Mr. Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of
constituents within and outside of FIFA and has all the knowledge and
experience necessary to help tackle these major reforms.
‘It is my deep care for FIFA and its interests, which I hold
very dear, that has led me to take this decision.
‘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.’