Could Sepp Blatter resignation pave way for independent directors at FIFA?

Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter, FIFA president since 1998, has resigned from his position less than a week after being re-elected.

The scandal-ridden organisation pressed ahead with the leadership vote on Friday, despite US authorities arresting 14 FIFA officials on corruption charges earlier that week.   

The eighth president of FIFA told a press conference yesterday that he would remain for a further six months to allow enough time for a proper election for his successor between December 2015 and March 2016: “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.