FIFA: Blatter not making U-turn on pledge to leave

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has not made a U-turn on his plans to leave office, the governing body said on Friday.FIFA responded after Swiss daily Blick reported comments made by Blatter late Thursday at an event to thank construction workers at FIFA’s new museum in Zurich.

Blatter said that he technically did not resign on June 2 but had pledged to leave at a special election congress.“I have not resigned, but I put back my mandate at the disposition of the next extraordinary congress,” the outgoing FIFA leader said in Blick’s report.In his speech on June 2, Blatter did not use the word “resign” and also pledged he would not be a candidate at the next election, which is expected to be held between December and March.“We can confirm the quotes in Blick are accurate,” FIFA said in a statement. “However, they are fully in line with the speech of the President on June 2.”Blatter has a tendency to play with words, leaving FIFA to clarify his meaning.

Previously, Blatter has spoken of a “mistake” in the awarding of the 2022 World Cup before it was later explained that he meant the error lay in choosing to play in the summer heat in Qatar. The tournament is now scheduled for November-December 2022.Doubts about Blatter’s promise to leave office were also fueled by public relations executive Klaus Stoehlker, who served as a his campaign adviser. “The president is fully prepared to step down but only if there is a competitor who is able to take over the job,” Stoehlker said on June 15. “The Swiss warrior takes decisions, and perhaps when the war is changing, he makes a new decision.”