Sepp Blatter Resigns as FIFA President

Sepp Blatter, who has served as president of FIFA soccer’s governing body for 17 years, is set to resign.

Blatter, who is considered one of the most powerful people in global sports, announced his resignation on Tuesday via a speech delivered at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, New York Times reports.

The announcement comes just days after allegations of corruption pertaining to his administration came to light.

According to the report:

Last Wednesday, police raided a five-star hotel, where seven soccer officials were arrested and held for extradition to the United States on corruption charges.

The arrests were followed by a detailed explanation by United States Justice Department officials on their investigation into FIFA. And from there came an initial dismissal by FIFA of the widespread nature of the charges; a defiant Mr. Blatter winning re-election to a fifth four-year term as president and his claiming that he would pilot FIFA’s battered boat “to shore”; a linking by United States officials of Mr. Blatter’s top deputy to a series of payments that are believed to be bribes; and, finally, just before 7 p.m. Central European Time on Tuesday, Mr. Blatter’s announcement that he would step down from the organization he has served, in various roles, for 40 years.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Alessandro Della Bella