Sepp Blatter Decision to Keep FIFA Unity, says Russian Minister
Sepp Blatter announced his resignation as FIFA president amid corruption scandal.
Sepp Blatter's decision to step down as FIFA president was aimed at maintaining the unity of world football's scandal-tainted governing body, according to Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko. (Complete resignation statement)
Russia are set to host the World Cup in 2018, but the awarding of that tournament and also the 2022 World Cup to Qatar have come under scrutiny as part of a criminal investigation amid a wider corruption probe into FIFA. ('Shame Blatter was re-elected')
Mutko said he had not been expecting Blatter to announce his stepping down, just four days after winning a presidency election that saw him ushered in for a fifth term. (FIFA scandal deepens)
"For me his (Blatter) resignation came as a complete surprise," the ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Mutko as saying. (Platini's UEFA and Blatter's FIFA - Two squabbling lovers)
"Blatter's statement makes it quite clear that he wants to keep FIFA united. He is looking for the continuation of FIFA reforms." (Britain mull alternative World Cup)