Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/521559
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE 2015 20 FOOTBALL Association chair- man Greg Dyke said Sepp Blatter's decision to stand down as FIFA president is "brilliant for world football". Blatter's announcement comes after FIFA admitted it paid 10mil- lion US dollars destined for the South Africa World Cup to an account controlled by the dis- graced former vice-president Jack Warner. The payment followed a letter from the South African FA to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke. Dyke, speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, said: "It is a good af- ternoon! I think it's brilliant for world football. This is the start of something new." UEFA president Michel Platini, now one of the possible contend- ers, welcomed the announcement. Platini said: "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision". It is only four days since Blat- ter, 79, won a fifth term as FIFA president when Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein pulled out of the running in the second round of voting in Zurich. However, after the development at a press conference on Tuesday, Dyke said: "When I left on Friday I said 'this is not over' - but even I couldn't have thought it'd be over so soon. "Why didn't he step down last week? Clearly there's a smoking gun of some sort. He's not been honourable in years. Now he's gone - let's celebrate. "FIFA needs a root and branch examination, we need to know where the money is being spent. It's been a corrupt organisation for something like 30 years and at long last we've got a chance to change it. "What matters is can we reform FIFA?" On the organisation's next lead- er, Dyke said: "They must have an impeccable character and be able to run an organisation where cor- ruption has been rife for years... a lot of people could do the job." Culture secretary John Whit- tingdale, a long-time critic of FIFA under Blatter said the world governing body now had to im- plement major reforms. He said: "Governments, national associations and international confederations, along with players and fans have all called for Sepp Blatter to resign in recent days. "We welcome his belated an- nouncement today but this is only the beginning of the process of change we need to see from FIFA. I sincerely hope this is the first step to a new FIFA that can command the confidence and respect of the football world once again." Simon Johnson, leader of Eng- land's failed bid to stage the 2018 World Cup, said: "There will con- tinue to be these questions over the bidding process. Let's see if the new leadership or interim leader- ship do anything to resolve that. "I want the full facts around the bidding to be known - it there was fairness and transparency then good, well done. If it is found there was improper behaviour in any way they must have a look at whether they should reopen the processes." Asked if he thought the 2018 World Cup would go ahead in Russia, Johnson said: "Yes, the pre- liminary draw is just a few weeks away, it's too late to change it. "But 2022 (Qatar) is another matter. I'd hope a fresh regime would take another look at the bidding process." Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Blatter resigns as FIFA chief SEPP Blatter, 79 threw in the tow- el yesterday and has called an ex- traordinary congress "as soon as possible", saying "a new president will be elected to follow me". The Swiss has held the role for 17 years but has come under in- creasing pressure following re- cent revelations. Blatter told the news conference: "I will organise an extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not suffi- cient. Sepp Blatter's full statement following his resignation as president of FIFA, world football's governing body: "I have been ref lecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of foot- ball. I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for foot- ball. I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organi- sation. That election is over but FIFA's challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul. 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 extraor- dinary elective congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA president until that elec- tion. The next ordinary FIFA con- gress will take place on 13 May 2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary con- gress for the election of my suc- cessor at the earliest opportunity. This will need to be done in line with FIFA's statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign. Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that elections in- evitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that tran- scend our previous efforts. For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough. The executive committee in- cludes representatives of confed- erations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions FIFA is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change. The size of the executive com- mittee must be reduced and its members should be elected through the FIFA congress. The integrity checks for all execu- tive committee members must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confed- erations. We need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the executive com- mittee. I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked. This time, I will succeed. I cannot do this alone. I have asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction and implementa- tion of these and other measures. Mr Scala is the independent chair- man of our audit and compliance committee elected by the FIFA congress. He is also the chairman of the ad hoc electoral committee and, as such, he will oversee the election of my successor. Mr Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of constituents within and outside of FIFA and has all the knowledge and experience nec- essary to help tackle these major reforms. It is my deep care for FIFA and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision. I would like to thank those who have always supported me in a constructive and loyal manner as president of FIFA and who have done so much for the game that we all love. What mat- ters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, foot- ball is the winner." Sepp Blatter has announced he is to resign as FIFA president Greg Dyke happy to see Blatter go Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said Sepp Blatter's decision to stand down as FIFA president is "brilliant for world football" Greg Dyke is delighted that Sepp Blatter is stepping down