FIFA: Pressure On Sepp Blatter From U.S. Investigation Could Force Quick Exit

FIFA insisted on Wednesday that there was "no panic" at its HQ in Zurich, "but in the outside world pressure began to build for Sepp Blatter to leave his post immediately," according to Moore, Blitz & Farchy of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Blatter said that he would remain as FIFA's president until a new congress of its 209 members was called to "elect his successor, sometime between December and next March." He would use his remaining days in office, he said, to "launch ambitious reforms" to clean up FIFA. But some suggested that he would "not be able to remain" at FIFA until a successor is found, "such is the pressure" of a U.S. corruption investigation surrounding him. Kozo Tashima, a member of FIFA's ExCo from Japan, said that he was "shocked" at Blatter's sudden resignation. Tashima: "It is a kind of a farce now for him to stay in office for the next six months or however long it takes to decide the new president. There's no reason for him to resign if there's nothing on him. But if there is something on him then you could make the argument that he shouldn't be allowed to stay on a moment longer." Former FA Chair David Bernstein said that Blatter's decision to stay on during the interim period "reminded him of the film Alien." Bernstein: "You could not get the alien out of that spaceship, no matter how hard you tried." FIFA denied "there was pressure" for Blatter to go. FIFA said, "Whatever anyone is saying there is no panic here at all. Life goes on but in a slightly different mode" (FT, 6/3). REUTERS' Toby Davis reported FA Chair Greg Dyke said that Blatter's replacement must be "squeaky clean" and have a "forensic eye" to turn FIFA into a "transparent organisation." Dyke described Blatter's decision to step down as a "good day for football," but said the replacement would "have his work cut out." Dyke: "The real issue now is whoever replaces Blatter has got to be squeaky clean because we haven't had a squeaky clean president of FIFA for many, many years" (REUTERS, 6/2).

POTENTIAL HEIR: BLOOMBERG's Tariq Panja reported it did not take long for oddsmakers to anoint Blatter's "probable successor." UEFA President Michel Platini, "a former Blatter protege turned fierce critic, is the man most likely to lead" FIFA into a new era, according to the bookies. Former FIFA reform adviser Mark Pieth said that "finding the right replacement willing to undertake reforms to allow FIFA to emerge from its scandal-battered reputation will not be easy." Pieth said of Platini, "He is the favorite from the inside. He has some formidable skeletons in the cupboard, and not just Qatar" (BLOOMBERG, 6/2). REUTERS' John Irish reported French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët said that a European candidate would be "best placed to replace" Blatter as head of FIFA. He added that Platini "was his favourite for the post." Le Graët: "I think that tomorrow ... we need a European candidate because the European governing body is undoubtedly the best organized and the one that best respects the law." He said that "all the Europeans believed former France captain Platini was the best candidate." Le Graët added, "He is the key person in world football today. He's the one who has the most experience, but it's a personal choice" (REUTERS, 6/3).

WHO'S NEXT?: REUTERS' Mike Collett reported FIFA is facing a "turning point in its history" with the end of Blatter's 17-year grip on power. It is "unlikely that anyone will remain at the helm for that long if age and term limits for future presidents are instituted as part of reforms." Here are "some of the men who might be candidates:" Platini, 59; Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (Jordan), 39; Jerome Champagne (France), 56; Wolfgang Niersbach (Germany), 64; Domenico Scala (Italy/Switzerland), 50 and Jérôme Valcke (France), 54 (REUTERS, 6/3). CNN's James Masters wrote all "eyes are on FIFA" and who will replace Blatter -- but "could one of Africa's leading women be set to revolutionize world football in the coming years?" Sierra Leone's Isha Johansen is "one of only two female football association presidents out of 209 member countries, and no woman has ever led the governing body." Johansen said when asked if she was interested in becoming FIFA president, "Why not?" She is unlikely, though, "to stand in the upcoming election." Johansen: "If the time is right. It's a learning process. I have learned so much in the years that I've been in football" (CNN, 6/3). In London, Jason Burt asked "what about" former footballer and politician George Weah? Africa was "fundamentally wrong to support Blatter and Weah was part of that support." He was quoted as saying, "I am pro-Blatter. The positives outweigh the negatives." Should that "rule him out?" Not "necessarily." Weah would have to "explain those comments but he carries such weight in Africa and in world football, commands such respect as a former player and a politician attempting to reform his homeland, Liberia, that he is an interesting proposition" (TELEGRAPH, 6/3).