Sepp Blatter stands down as FIFA president

June 02, 2015 22:36 IST

Outgoing FIFA President Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter. Photograph: Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images

Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA president on Tuesday, four days after being re-elected to a fifth term.

Blatter, 79, announced the decision at a news conference in Zurich, six days after the FBI raided a hotel in Zurich and arrested several FIFA officials.

He was re-elected after his only rival, Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein withdrew after losing heavily in the first round of voting.

"FIFA has been my life...what counts most for me is FIFA and football around the world," Blatter said.

"An extraordinary congress is to be called to elect my successor as soon as possible."

Source: REUTERS
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