After a week of revelations of scandal and corruption surrounding FIFA and its associates, President Sepp Blatter has confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday evening the unprecedented decision to resign from his position. Aware that his mandate is unsupported by large numbers of the footballing body's associates and officials, he stated: "I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as President. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms." His successor is to be chosen some time between December and March, with Blatter remaining in his position until then.
Also speaking at the press conference, Domenico Scala, chairman of the FIFA audit and compliance committee, gave details of the process which is to be conducted in order to replace the president, as well as the future changes which are to be made to the organisation. "I am dedicated to putting into place the conditions for the election of a new president," he said, adding that there will be, "reforms to how the elections are conducted. Under the rules governing FIFA, the election must be voted on by members at the FIFA congress. The president will ask the executive committee to form an extraordinary congress to elect a new president. "
The time delay may seem rather lengthy, however according to The Guardian, the existing FIFA rules on the notice periods that are necessary for elections to be conducted, and for candidates to be able to present themselves, mean that the process will have to be delayed until at least December.
Greg Dyke, chairman of the FA, is reported to be delighted by the news, asking questions concerning what will happen to the two World Cups in 2018 and 2022, events which are currently at the heart of the corruption scandal that has seriously shaken the footballing organisation: "Something has come out of the events of last week that has caused Mr. Blatter to resign … He's gone. At long last we can sort out FIFA. We can go back to looking at those two World Cups. If I were Qatar right now I wouldn't be feeling very comfortable."
