The Fifa president unexpectedly resigned today, and is now reportedly targeted in the FBI's corruption investigation.
Hamish McNicol talks about the latest in the FIFA scandal on NBR Radio and on demand on MyNBR Radio.
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Fifa president Sepp Blatter has unexpectedly resigned just four days after being re-elected, with reports now emerging he too is being investigated as part of an US inquiry into corruption at world football’s governing body.
Mr Blatter, 79, was re-elected to a fifth presidential term just days after US prosecutors indicted 14 people from Fifa for bribes and kickbacks worth more than $US100 million over two decades.
But today he announced he would resign from the post he first took in 1998, saying “Fifa needs profound restructuring.”
"Although the members of Fifa gave me a new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world."
Now the New York Times is reporting Mr Blatter is the focus of the FBI’s investigation into corruption at Fifa.
Many had speculated the resignation came because an investigation into Mr Blatter was imminent.
The New York Times says several officials have said they are hoping to win the cooperation of some of the Fifa officials already indicted before working up the organisation.
Fifa says an election to choose Mr Blatter’s successor could happen between December this year and March next.
New Zealand Football voted against Mr Blatter in the Fifa presidential election, which The Guardian called an "honourable but risky stand."
He defeated his rival, Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, in the first round of voting as he secured the backing of 133 of the 209 voting members.
African and Asian countries block-voted in support of Mr Blatter, as well as some South American countries.
New Zealand is currently hosting the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, with the chairman of the organising committee for that tournament, Jeffrey Webb, one of the Fifa officials accused.
Former New Zealand football administrator Charlie Dempsey, who died in 2008, gained worldwide attention when he abstained from voting for hosting rights to the 2006 World Cup because of “pressures” from various people, despite having previously indicated support for South Africa.
His decision saw Germany win instead.
Swiss prosecutors have also opened a separate investigation into the bidding process that awarded Russia and Qatar the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively.
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