Sepp Blatter Steps Down as FIFA President; 'Profound Overhaul' Needed?

Sepp Blatter’s 17-year reign as FIFA chief has come to an abrupt end. The once highly regarded powerful person in global sports officially stepped down as FIFA president in a formal resignation speech held at the FIFA headquarters.

Blatter along with several other soccer officials are facing corruption charges, which are being handled by the United States Justice Department.

A police raid last Wednesday at a five-star hotel in Switzerland saw seven soccer officials arrested, linking them to corruption charges. A detailed explanation on why the arrests were carried out was released but FIFA immediately dismissed the allegations thereafter.

Despite the arrests, Blatter was surprisingly re-elected two days later with the promise of spearheading the restructuring FIFA. Those ambitions were immediately doused when one of his top deputies (Jerome Valcke) got linked to a series of payments which are believed to be bribes.

After firmly promising he would work to get FIFA back on track and raise questions on why he should resign, it was a different Blatter altogether this Tuesday in a barely-filled room of reporters at the FIFA headquarters.

“Although the members of FIFA have given me the new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football” he was quoted as saying from the New York Times.

Blatter did not take questions and simply headed to the door and disappeared.

Now, the question in most people’s minds is what changed since last week that led to Blatter resigning from his post? More so, what lies ahead for him and FIFA?

Aside from serving on an interim basis until a new FIFA chief is chosen, Blatter could be in for a rough road ahead with the ongoing corruption charges being handled by US prosecutors.

Though he was not directly implicated in the criminal cases, there is no doubt that he will be a target. And with that said, US officials are hoping to get some mileage from the FIFA officials who are now facing indictment charges on racketeering and money laundering to help build a case against the long-time FIFA president.

As far as FIFA is concerned, reforms will still go on as planned, an overhaul that Blatter stressed when he was initially re-elected as FIFA president last Friday. Despite officially announcing his resignation, Blatter will continue to serve on an interim capacity and consider reforms with the guidance of Domenico Scala, the independent chairman for FIFA’s audit and compliance committee.

There is no word yet on who would succeed Blatter though the names of Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan has been mentioned. Ali bin al-Hussein lost to Blatter in the last election but stands to be among the candidates once again. Aside from him, another name pitched into the mix is Michel Platini, head of the European soccer body.