Fifa official issues Blatter warning

Sepp Blatter: Fifa official Domenico Scala issues warning By Dan Roan

The man entrusted to lead Fifa out of its latest crisis has appeared to warn outgoing president Sepp Blatter not to rethink resigning.

Domenico Scala, chairman of Fifa’s audit and compliance committee, said it was “indispensable to follow with the initiated process of the president’s change as has been announced”.

The statement was in response to a report that Blatter could try to stay Fifa president, despite announcing on 2 June his intention to step down as head of world football’s governing body.

Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag  said it had information that Blatter had not ruled out an audacious bid to remain in office after receiving support from football officials in Africa and Asia.

But Scala, who has been given the task of overseeing the election of Blatter’s successor, said: “For me, the reforms are the central topic.”

His statement is the first sign of potential tension between the pair.

One of the reforms Scala has recommended, as well as greater financial transparency and a new governance structure, is three terms of a maximum 12 years for both the president and Fifa executive committee members.

Blatter has already served 17 years, and said he would step down as president in the wake of an FBI-led corruption investigation that has plunged Fifa into turmoil.

The 79-year-old made his announcement just four days after winning a fifth term as president having beaten rival Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.

Fifa is due to choose Blatter’s replacement at an emergency Congress meeting in Zurich in December.

BBC Sport