Sepp Blatter has "vowed to reveal details about his departure as FIFA president after he officially steps down," according to ESPN. Just days after being re-elected as FIFA's top official in June, "he announced he would be stepping down as a corruption scandal enveloped the governing body." Blatter will "officially resign his post" after FIFA elects a new president in February, and Blatter said in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant that he will "explain his decision to walk away at some point after that." Asked if something "major" happened after his re-election to make him reconsider his position, Blatter said, "That is something I wish to keep to myself. What has happened, will be part of my legacy. It felt highly uncomfortable at the time. ... I did it to protect the institution and my family against the attacks on FIFA, not to protect myself. I don't need any help when it comes to my personal integrity." Blatter then called the corruption investigation by the U.S. justice department an "attack on FIFA." He said, "Have you seen the press conference by [U.S. Attorney General] Loretta Lynch? She stood there together with the head of the FBI, portraying FIFA as an enterprise that resembles the mafia. Whatever" (ESPN, 8/15). The AFP reported Blatter has alleged UEFA President Michel Platini "warned him he faced prison if he did not withdraw" from FIFA's presidential race. Blatter claimed the warning, in which Platini "allegedly said Blatter would go to jail if he did not withdraw from May's FIFA presidential race, was made to the Swiss official's brother." But a source close to Platini described the claim as "ridiculous." Blatter: "During lunch, Platini had sat down at my brother's table and said, 'Tell Sepp to withdraw from the election or he will go to prison'" (AFP, 8/16).
'6 PLUS 5' RULE: The AP reported Blatter has asked western Europe for "a little good will" to follow Russia and limit foreign players in club lineups. Blatter promoted his "6-plus-5" idea in FIFA's weekly magazine, to "honor local talent" by forcing clubs to start matches with six players eligible for the national team. His original proposal caused conflict with UEFA before being dropped in '10 because the European Union protects workers' free movement. Blatter said that non-English players got 77% of the playing time last season in the Premier League (AP, 8/13).
