Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa boss over corruption scandal

Sepp Blatter has announce he is to quit as head of world football's governing body, Fifa, just five days after he was re-elected.



The Swiss footballing bureaucrat had been due to address a press conference, but announced he is leave following allegations that one of his aides knew of alleged corrupt payments.

In a statement at a press conference in Zurich, the Fifa president said: "An extraordinary congress is to be called to elect my successor as soon as possible."

It came hours after it emerged US law enforcement agencies are probing an alleged $10m (£6.5m) in bank transactions made by key lieutenant Jerome Valcke.

Mr Valcke, Fifa's secretary general, is allegedly the previously unidentified "high ranking Fifa official" who prosecutors in the case alleged made the huge payment in 2008.

It is claimed the sum came from accounts allegedly controlled by another Fifa official Jack Warner, a former vice president of FIFA and president of Concacaf football organisation.

Mr Warner was among a number of officials arrested by police las week.

The claimed payment forms a major part of an indictment accusing Mr. Warner of taking a bribe in exchange for helping South Africa secure the right to host the 2010 World Cup.
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