Blatter dismisses calls for immediate stand-down

Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected calls from the European Parliament for him to stand down immediately, a FIFA spokesman said on Thursday.

Blatter, who resigned last week despite being re-elected as head of football's world governing body, intends to continue in office until a successor is designated, probably by the end of the year.

"FIFA is perplexed by the European Parliament’s resolution," the spokesman said.

"As is well known, following his re-election, the FIFA President already decided, owing to the special circumstances in which FIFA finds itself, to lay down his mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress."

The European Parliament had earlier called on Blatter to step down immediately and allow for an interim leader to launch reforms in global football's governing body.

In a show of hands, members of parliament overwhelmingly voted for the resolution during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France.

The FIFA spokseman added: "The President is focused on ensuring that at this Congress, which he is demanding, imperative reforms are passed and a new President elected."

The date for the congress will be set at an executive committee meeting in July.
Source: AFP