Joseph Blatter has ended his term as FIFA president. The Swiss exec, who served as football's main man for over 17 years, resigned today after a much publicized corruption scandal prior to his election last Friday.
During a press conference, which was called on very short notice, Blatter revealed his motives to leave his position in the organisation.
"I have thoroughly considered my presidency and thought about my presidency and the last 40 years in my life. These years were closely related to FIFA and this wonderful sport of football, I appreciate and love FIFA more than anything else and only want to do the best for football and FIFA and our institution," 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. 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," the Swiss exec added.
Although there was already a FIFA congress scheduled in 2016, Blatter acknowledged delaying this process would not benefit anyone.
"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," Blatter concluded.
This was Blatter's full statement.
After beig harshly criticized for not stepping down, here's what fans and experts have stated about the Swiss' decision.
Blatter has resigned. Can't quite believe it. FIFA always appeared to be such a fine upstanding organisation.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 2, 2015
My wife always tells me the garbage wont take itself out. Sometimes she's wrong. #BlatterOut
— Offensive Loons Fan (@Offensive_Loons) June 2, 2015
Whoa. Just seeing Blatter news. Christmas in June for soccer fans! Too late to replace those turf fields in Canada?
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) June 2, 2015
Blatter to resign! FIFA must have gotten calls from the leaders of the free world: Coca-Cola, Visa, McDonald's, and Adidas!
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) June 2, 2015
Blatter leaves. Football stays.
— León Krauze (@Leon_Krauze) June 2, 2015
Viernes 29/5: "I love my job. Let's go FIFA. Let's go FIFA" Martes 2/6: "Hasta la vista, babies" #BlatterOut pic.twitter.com/VkDDy6Pa1q
— Sebastian Garcia (@SebaHGarcia) June 2, 2015
Thank you America & @FBI. #BlatterOut
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 2, 2015
Blatter to Swiss TV on Friday: "Why would I step down? That would mean I recognise that I did wrong."
— Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) June 2, 2015
All football fans are together... The time line is beautiful right now...Everyone's celebrating this #BlatterOut
— L3ahpar (@l3ahpar) June 2, 2015
Some FIFA members will gripe Blatter exit is due to bullying by big US money & Washington. Clearly true, but doesn't mean resignation wrong
— Robert Peston (@Peston) June 2, 2015