Sepp Blatter may change his mind and continue as FIFA president

A Swiss newspaper reported that Mr. Blatter is trying to find a way to continue leading the world football federation, despite his surprise announcement of resignation in early June.

The Swiss official announced on June 2 that he would step down after 17 years as FIFA president, despite being re-elected four days earlier, due to pressure from many sides related to bribery and corruption scandals at the world football governing body.

However, according to the Schweiz am Sonntag newspaper published on Sunday, June 14, Sepp Blatter may change his mind to stay as FIFA president until the end of his current term.

Blatter has recently received messages of support from African and Asian football federations, asking him to reconsider his decision to resign earlier this month. In nearly 20 years leading FIFA, Blatter has gathered great support from many national football federations, through football development programs and projects around the world, with a special focus on underdeveloped football in Asia and Africa.

Support from Asia and Africa is the basis for Blatter (left) to consider continuing in office. Photo: Reuters.

A source close to Blatter revealed that the Swiss official feels respected and trusted by the great support from Asia and Africa, so he does not rule out the possibility of seeking to stay in office.

The Swiss newspaper also said that Blatter's desire to remain FIFA president was one of the reasons why Walter de Gregorio, FIFA's communications director, had to resign. Because De Gregorio wanted a completely new start at the world football organization and advised Blatter to leave.

However, Domenico Scala, head of FIFA's audit and monitoring committee, has stressed that Blatter's departure is an integral part of FIFA's reform plan.

“For me, the reform of FIFA is the central theme that everyone should be working towards. Accordingly, the change of president is an inevitable start in this process. That has been announced,” Scala said.

Blatter has changed his mind in the past. When he began his fourth term in 2011, he said it would be his last four years as FIFA president. But he decided to run again and was re-elected on May 29. Amid criticism, Blatter still won by a landslide over his sole opponent, Ali Bin al-Hussein, by a margin of 133-73.

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

An Extraordinary FIFA Congress is expected to take place 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 20 July.

Several names have been mentioned as candidates to replace Sepp Blatter, including: Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan (who lost the last election), UEFA President Michel Platini; and Luis Figo, Michael van Praag, David Ginola (who withdrew from the race for the FIFA presidency before the vote), or David Gill (former CEO of Man Utd). Blatter will remain President until a successor is elected.

According to US media, where the FBI is investigating many FIFA officials, Blatter suddenly announced his resignation because he felt pressured by being under investigation by the US Department of Justice for corruption. 14 senior FIFA officials are under investigation by the FBI, the US Department of Justice and Swiss authorities for $150 million in corruption 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