ADVERTISEMENT

Blatter exit will help FIFA transparency - German Chancellor

Blatter resigned on Tuesday to exultant critics as a US investigation reportedly draws closer to snaring the most powerful man in world sport, following a series of arrests of top FIFA officials.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel says the resignation of the world football boss, Sepp Blatter is a step to help restore transparency in its corruption-tainted governing body, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Blatter, who has ruled the world’s richest and most powerful sporting federation for 17 years, had just been elected for a fifth term in an election on Friday, but said he would step down after new corruption revelations about FIFA.

Many have expressed shock at his decision to step down but Merkel opines it will help restore transparency.

“I think that for … billions of football fans it is an important message for all of us who like football — and I, too, am a fan — that the world football organisation can be run according to the standards we wish for,” Merkel said at a joint press conference with visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

ADVERTISEMENT

She added that the announcement by the 79-year-old Swiss official meant that “it will be more feasible to make the work of FIFA more transparent.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT