Sepp Blatter is no longer the president of everybody. The scandal-wracked FIFA head has announced he will resign, and a special session of congress will be held to elect his successor.


It is not clear what changed between Blatter’s reelection to a fifth term on Friday and today’s announcement. though the paper trail tying FIFA’s No. 2 official to a purported bribe for World Cup votes may have been a major development. We have to assume there is much more coming, or that the ongoing U.S. Swiss investigations into FIFA corruption are expected to implicate more and higher-level executives.


Update: Yep, Sepp was in the DoJ’s crosshairs.

Here is Blatter’s full statement, delivered at a press conference in Zurich today.


And here’s the video of his remarks, delivered in French, with English translation:


Blatter left without taking questions.



Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, will handle the transition. Scala said that Blatter will remain on as president until the election is conducted. That election, Scala said, would take place some time between December 2015 and March 2016.




There will potentially be other changes to FIFA’s structure:


Blatter has served as president since 1998, and has been a part of FIFA since 1975.