Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal

In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary Fifa congress "as soon as possible" to elect a new president.

Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top Fifa officials being arrested two days before the vote.

But he said: "My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody."

When will a new president be elected?

Blatter, who has been Fifa president since 1998, said: "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 must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign."

The extraordinary congress is expected to take place between December 2015 and March 2016.

What are Blatter's plans?

Fifa was rocked last week by the arrests on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people.

The latest allegations of corruption to emerge on Tuesday involved reports claiming Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke was responsible for an alleged $10m (£6m) payment of bribes over South Africa's bid to host the 2010 World Cup. He denies any wrongdoing.

A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.

Blatter says he stood for re-election as he felt it was the "best option for football" but took his decision to resign in Fifa's best interests.

"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," he said.

"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."

Why now?

"He's not a man who wanted to go out this way - he wanted to remain as Fifa's leader," said BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent Richard Conway.

"He wanted to bring Fifa and football back together but that ignored the huge weight of the allegations that stood against the organisation.

"And, of course, that threat from the US Department of Justice that this was not the end, it was only the beginning of their enquiries.

"Jerome Valcke is under pressure in connection with a bribe that the US Department of Justice allege was paid from a Fifa account to Jack Warner, a former Fifa executive. That is exactly where this story is going to be going in the next few weeks and months.

"In the end, Blatter's position became untenable and we will perhaps know more in the weeks ahead about what exactly tipped him over the edge."

Daughter "sad and relieved"

Blatter's daughter Corinne told the BBC that the pressure "had been wearing him down."

"I am both sad and relieved," she said. "My wish now is for calm to be restored, both for my father and for world football. But above all I wish for the world to finally acknowledge the great things he has done for football in the last 40 years.

"My father is my father. He is a wonderful person. By making this decision, he also wants to protect us, his family, first and foremost. His decision has nothing, absolutely nothing at all, to do with the accusations that are currently circulating. My father is an honest person who has dedicated his life to football."

How has the football world reacted?

Michel Platini, the president of European football's governing body Uefa, had urged Blatter not to stand for re-election and to quit following the arrests in Switzerland.

After Blatter stated his intention to step down, Platini said: "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision."

The Football Association has been vociferous in its criticism of Blatter.

"This is great news for football. It should have happened years ago," FA chairman Greg Dyke told the BBC.

"The timetable doesn't matter. There has to be a root-and-branch investigation of Fifa. It has all got to be transparent in the future."

Former Portugal international Luis Figo withdrew from the presidential election eight days before the vote.

"A good day for Fifa and for football," he said. "Change is finally coming.

"Now we should, responsibly and calmly, find a consensual solution worldwide in order to start a new era of dynamism, transparency and democracy in Fifa."

Meanwhile, World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola has called Blatter's resignation "a positive step".

"We believe this decision will help Fifa transform itself rapidly into a much-needed 21st century structure and institution," said a statement.

(BBC)