Sepp Blatter says his decision to leave FIFA was “liberating” and he expects the election to replace him will be in early 2016.
In an interview published on Saturday, Blatter explained why on June 2 he announced his planned FIFA exit amid American and Swiss investigations of corruption in world soccer. “It was the only way to take away the pressure from FIFA and my employees, including (pressure) from the sponsors,” Blatter told his local Walliser Bote newspaper. “To remove FIFA and me personally from the line of fire.”
Blatter was asked “hand on heart” if he would renege on his promise to go. “I am not a candidate, but the elected president,” Blatter said in an interview given several days ago. “And I want to hand over FIFA in good condition.”
That is likely to be next year, he suggested, at a special election congress of FIFA’s 209 member federations in Zurich. Blatter said the “realistic” date was the beginning of 2016, to prepare a four-month election campaign required by FIFA rules and avoid a clash with the Club World Cup. That tournament in Japan is scheduled Dec. 10-20.
In his most frank comments yet since his stunning June 2 speech, the 79-year-old Blatter reflected on the approaching end of his four decades at FIFA and what lies ahead.
“I am not yet having many thoughts about this, and am not worrying,” he said. “The decision to go is definitely liberating. For FIFA and for myself.” He suggested that his final months will be busy, despite many descriptions of him as a lame-duck leader.
“I am still president of FIFA and fully capable of acting. FIFA and football have been the most important part of my life for 40 years,” Blatter said. “So I will use all my strength and inspiration up to my last working day to steer the ship back into the safe harbor.”