Sepp Blatter announced his resignation as FIFA president due to the corruption scandal engulfing the organization. Blatter, who had been re-elected to a fifth term just days earlier, confirmed he would stay in office until a special election is held to select a successor. The election will occur between December 2015 and March 2016, during which FIFA will evaluate potential candidates. The resignation followed the arrest of several officials involved in a U.S. corruption investigation, although Blatter was not indicted.
A U.S. Justice Department investigation led to the indictment of 14 individuals, including FIFA officials and sports marketing executives, accused of accepting over $150 million in bribes. The investigation focused on tournament marketing rights in North and South America over two decades. While Blatter was not among those indicted, sources revealed that he was being investigated by U.S. authorities. This added pressure on him to step down despite initially resisting calls for his resignation.
Blatter’s Announcement and FIFA’s Reforms
Blatter, aged 79, made his resignation announcement in a brief and solemn statement. He expressed that, despite having a mandate from FIFA members, he felt he lacked support from the global football community, including fans, players, and clubs. He emphasized that FIFA needed substantial reforms, an overhaul that he hoped to begin during his remaining time in office. He called for structural changes within FIFA, including term limits for officials, after previous reform efforts were blocked.
The U.S. authorities’ investigation centered on alleged corruption tied to FIFA’s business dealings, notably regarding tournament marketing rights. Seven officials had been arrested, including two FIFA vice presidents and other high-ranking members. Although Blatter was not directly implicated, sources suggested that the FBI and U.S. prosecutors were focusing on him. Meanwhile, Swiss authorities launched a separate inquiry into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar, respectively, amid controversy over human rights concerns.
Support for Blatter’s Resignation and FIFA’s Future
After Blatter’s announcement, FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee chairman, Domenico Scala, praised the decision as a necessary step for an orderly transition. Scala stated that FIFA needed to address its internal issues and explore structural changes, including the composition of the executive committee. Blatter’s decision to resign was met with approval from various FIFA officials, including Michel Platini, president of UEFA, who called it a “brave” and “right” choice. The need for reforms was widely acknowledged as vital for restoring FIFA’s credibility.
Blatter’s tenure, which spanned more than 40 years, has been marred by controversies surrounding corruption and governance. He first joined FIFA in 1975 and became president in 1998. Despite efforts to reform the organization, Blatter admitted that his attempts had been thwarted. In his resignation statement, he acknowledged that FIFA’s challenges were far from over and that substantial work was needed. His legacy, intertwined with FIFA’s troubled history, will be remembered as one that required bold changes but was also burdened by unaddressed issues at the heart of the organization.
