Sepp Blatter may not be resigning as FIFA president after all

Two weeks after announcing that he would be stepping down as head of FIFA at some point in the next months, Sepp Blatter reportedly is reconsidering that decision.

He may seek to stay on, with his replacement set to be selected in an emergency meeting of soccer’s world organization in December. Citing an unnamed source it says is close to Blatter, the Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag reported that the African and Asian soccer associations had asked him to reconsider his decision. As a result, the 79-year-old Blatter, who was elected to his fifth term just days before he resigned, is reconsidering the surprise decision he announced June 2, even as an investigation into corruption under his 17-year watch is proceeding.

FIFA, asked by Perform to comment, mentioned his resignation announcement and said it “has no further comment.”

What’s going on here, besides the very formidable backing of the African and Asian associations? Blatter’s change of heart was behind the departure of Walter de Gregorio as FIFA’s director of communications, the newspaper says. De Gregorio, who had no comment for the paper, had urged Blatter to step down.

Amid reports that he was fired, De Gregorio resigned after he obliged a request to tell his favorite FIFA joke on a talk show last week. “The FIFA president, secretary general and communications director are in a car. Who’s driving?” he said. “The police.”

Credit : Washington Post