Sepp Blatter says he has not resigned
as Fifa president.
The 79-year-old Swiss was thought to
have ended his 17-year reign on 2 June
amid claims of corruption in world
football's governing body.
A Fifa statement confirmed a report in
Swiss news
paper Blick, which said
Blatter told a party: "I did not resign, I
put myself and my office in the hands of
the Fifa congress."
Blatter is thought to be considering
standing for re-election as president.
Two criminal investigations into alleged
Fifa corruption began in the week that
Blatter was elected for a fifth term in
charge.
Four days after being voted president,
Blatter - who is reportedly under
investigation in the United States -
said: "While I have a mandate from the
membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I
have a mandate from the entire world of
football.
"Therefore, I have decided to lay down
my mandate at an extraordinary elective
congress. I will continue to exercise my
functions as Fifa president until that
election."
However, Blatter did not use the words
'resign' or 'resignation'. He did add,
however, the election would be for his
"successor" and said: "I shall not be a
candidate."
The Fifa statement added the quotes in
Blick were "fully in line with the speech
of the president on 2 June".
Labour MP Chris Bryant, the shadow
secretary of state for culture, said: "Sepp
Blatter's antics remind me not so much
of the hokey-cokey as Glenn Close in
Fatal Attraction.
"It's time Fifa put an end to all this
speculation, which is harming the sport,
and give a final date for Blatter's
departure."
Meanwhile, Blatter may not attend the
final of the Women's World Cup in
Canada because of the twin
investigations into Fifa by American and
Swiss authorities.
He would normally present the trophy to
the winning team, but Fifa will not
confirm whether Blatter or secretary
general Jerome Valcke will attend.
A Fifa spokesperson said: "In terms of
the Fifa president and the Fifa secretary
general, their future travel plans will be
confirmed in due course."
as Fifa president.
The 79-year-old Swiss was thought to
have ended his 17-year reign on 2 June
amid claims of corruption in world
football's governing body.
A Fifa statement confirmed a report in
Swiss news
paper Blick, which said
Blatter told a party: "I did not resign, I
put myself and my office in the hands of
the Fifa congress."
Blatter is thought to be considering
standing for re-election as president.
Two criminal investigations into alleged
Fifa corruption began in the week that
Blatter was elected for a fifth term in
charge.
Four days after being voted president,
Blatter - who is reportedly under
investigation in the United States -
said: "While I have a mandate from the
membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I
have a mandate from the entire world of
football.
"Therefore, I have decided to lay down
my mandate at an extraordinary elective
congress. I will continue to exercise my
functions as Fifa president until that
election."
However, Blatter did not use the words
'resign' or 'resignation'. He did add,
however, the election would be for his
"successor" and said: "I shall not be a
candidate."
The Fifa statement added the quotes in
Blick were "fully in line with the speech
of the president on 2 June".
Labour MP Chris Bryant, the shadow
secretary of state for culture, said: "Sepp
Blatter's antics remind me not so much
of the hokey-cokey as Glenn Close in
Fatal Attraction.
"It's time Fifa put an end to all this
speculation, which is harming the sport,
and give a final date for Blatter's
departure."
Meanwhile, Blatter may not attend the
final of the Women's World Cup in
Canada because of the twin
investigations into Fifa by American and
Swiss authorities.
He would normally present the trophy to
the winning team, but Fifa will not
confirm whether Blatter or secretary
general Jerome Valcke will attend.
A Fifa spokesperson said: "In terms of
the Fifa president and the Fifa secretary
general, their future travel plans will be
confirmed in due course."
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