Sepp Blatter resigns from post of FIFA President

Sepp Blatter announced that he will be stepping down from the post of FIFA President, just four days after being re-elected to the post for a fifth term after defeating challenger Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan.

In the vote, Blatter, fell just short of the two-thirds of votes he needed to win outright claiming 133 votes to 73 of Prince Ali. However just before a second round of votes was due to start, Prince Ali withdrew his candidature.

Another election will now be held during an Extraordinary Congress. This would be held most probably sometime between December and March 2016.

Malta was one of five countries who had nominated Prince Ali back in January along with Jordan, England, Georgia, Belarus and the United States.

Blatter had been under mounting pressure to step down on the eve of the election especially after Swiss authorities arrested a string of officials on corruption charges and opened criminal proceedings over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Meanwhile until the election, Blatter will continue to carry out his functions. During a press conference on Tuesday, the FIFA President announced a significant reform programme to be driven by Domenico Scala, the Independent Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee.