The reason for Blatter’s sudden decision was the indication today that the United States Justice Department probe of money laundering, wire fraud and bribery allegations against top FIFA executives was hitting nearer Blatter himself, with one of his aides linked with a $10 million payment over South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup in 2010.
But in statement, Blatter only cited his late realisation that he does not have the mandate of the entire world of football, even though he has the mandate of FIFA members.
“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.
A date for the extra-ordinary congress is yet to be announced to choose Blatter’s successor.
(Read FIFA President’s full statement here:http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/footballgovernance/02/61/77/26/presidentaddress2jun15_final_neutral.pdfFIFA needs a profound overhaul.)
Reuters provided today an insight into the build up to Blatter’s surrender to the forces against him today.
“U.S. prosecutors believe FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s top lieutenant made $10 million in bank transactions that are central to the bribery investigation of the world soccer body, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.
“Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general, is described in an indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, as an unidentified “high-ranking FIFA official” who in 2008 transferred the sum to another FIFA official, Jack Warner.
“Valcke is not named as a defendant and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. He was not immediately available for comment.
“A spokeswoman for FIFA said the $10 million in bank transactions were authorized by the then-FIFA Finance Committee chairman. The Finance Committee chairman was Julio Grondona, who died last year.
Valcke and Blatter are the top two officials within FIFA.
“Valcke’s connection to the case was first reported by The New York Times. The Times said Valcke had written in an email to the newspaper that he neither had authorized the payment nor had the power to do so”.
South Africa has denied vehemently that it did not offer any bribe to host the tournament, first time on African soil.
FIFA was rocked last week by the arrests of seven top executives in Zurich, Switzerland on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people.
A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.
Sepp Blatter has been at the head of FIFA since 1998.