Sepp Blatter may change his mind and continue as FIFA president.

A Swiss newspaper reported that Blatter is trying to find a way to continue leading the World Football Federation, despite his unexpected resignation announcement in early June.

The Swiss official announced on June 2nd that he would step down from his position as FIFA president after 17 years, despite being re-elected just four days earlier, due to pressure from various sides related to bribery and corruption scandals within the world's governing body of football.

However, according to the Sunday edition of Schweiz am Sonntag on June 14th, Sepp Blatter may change his mind and remain as FIFA president until the end of his current term.

Blatter has recently received a series of messages of support from member football federations in Africa and Asia, urging him to reconsider his decision to resign earlier this month. During his nearly 20 years leading FIFA, Blatter garnered significant support from numerous national football federations through programs and projects aimed at developing football around the world, with a particular focus on less developed football in Asia and Africa.

Support from Asia and Africa is the basis for Blatter (left) considering staying in office. Photo: Reuters.

Sources close to Blatter revealed that the Swiss official feels respected and trusted by the strong support from Asia and Africa, and therefore does not rule out the possibility of seeking to remain in office.

The Swiss newspaper also reported that Blatter's continued desire to retain the FIFA presidency was one reason for Walter de Gregorio's resignation, FIFA's Director of Communications. De Gregorio wanted a completely new beginning for the world football organization and advised Blatter to step down.

However, Domenico Scala, FIFA's head of auditing and oversight, stressed that Blatter's departure was an integral part of FIFA's reform plan.

“For me, reforming FIFA is the central theme that everyone should be focusing on. Therefore, changing the president is an inevitable starting point in this process. That has already been announced,” Scala stated.

Blatter has changed his mind in the past. At the beginning of his fourth term in 2011, he said it would be his last four years as FIFA president. But he later decided to run again and was re-elected in the May 29th vote. Amidst criticism, Blatter still overwhelmingly defeated his only opponent, Ali Bin al-Hussein, with a vote of 133-73.

Blatter announced his resignation on June 3rd amid rumors that he was being targeted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for corruption. Photo: EPA.

An extraordinary FIFA Congress is expected to take place sometime between December 2015 and February 2016 to elect a new President. The exact date will be decided by the FIFA Executive Committee at its meeting on July 20th.

Several names have been mentioned as potential replacements for Sepp Blatter, including: Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan (who lost the most recent election), UEFA President Michel Platini; and Luis Figo, Michael van Praag, David Ginola (who withdrew from the FIFA presidential race before the vote), and David Gill (former CEO of Manchester United). Blatter will remain president until a successor is elected.

According to US media, where the FBI is investigating several FIFA officials, Blatter abruptly announced his resignation, feeling pressured by the fact that he was also under investigation for corruption by the US Department of Justice. Fourteen senior FIFA officials are under investigation by the FBI, the US Department of Justice, and Swiss authorities for alleged corruption totaling $150 million over the past 24 years. European lawmakers are also among those calling for the 79-year-old football official to resign immediately.

According to VNE