Blatter resigns, reaction

Front pages
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Some first editions of tomorrow's papers are
coming out and Blatter has made the front page of
the International New York Times.
20:08
World Cup sponsor welcomes resignation
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola has called Blatter's
resignation "a positive step."
"Our expectation remains that FIFA will continue to
act with urgency to take concrete actions to fully
address all of the
issues that have been raised and win back the
trust of all who love the sport of football.
"We believe this decision will help FIFA transform
itself rapidly into a much-needed 21st century
structure and institution."
20:04
'A good day for football' - Figo
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Former Portugal midfielder Luis Figo had run for
the presidency in the latest election, before
withdrawing in the week before the vote.
"A good day for FIFA and for football," he said on
Facebook. "Change is finally coming. I said on
Friday that the day would come sooner or later.
"Here it is! Now we should, responsibly and
calmly, find a consensual solution worldwide in
order to start new era of dynamism, transparency
and democracy in FIFA."
19:58
Why Africa backed Sepp Blatter
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
If you read most of the world's media, Sepp
Blatter's ability to hang on to power at Fifa was
nothing short of miraculous
After years of negative headlines, the frenzy has
reached fever pitch in the wake of the US
allegations of corruption at the highest level in
football - even though Mr Blatter himself has not
been implicated.
And running through all this coverage was a
theme - bemusement that much of the football
world kept voting for him.
Nowhere was Sepp Blatter's support stronger than
across Asia and Africa. So why did most of the
representatives from those two continents vote for
him again? Read this feature and all will be
revealed.
19:49
Key dates in Blatter's downfall
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
1 June 2015: Blatter is re-elected as FIFA
president for a fifth term after his challenger,
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, withdraws during a
second round of voting.
Football Association vice-chairman David Gill
rejects a place on FIFA's executive committee
under Blatter.
Independent FA director Heather Rabbattslater
resigns from FIFA's anti-discrimination task force.
June 2 2015: Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke
denies allegations that he made key payments in a
bribery scandal.
Blatter announces he is to resign as FIFA
president.
19:48
Key dates in Blatter's downfall
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
May 2015: Seven FIFA officials are arrested in
dawn raids at a hotel in Zurich. They are later
charged by US authorities along with two other
FIFA officials and five corporate executives over
allegations of racketeering, wire fraud and money
laundering conspiracies spanning 24 years. They
are accused of breeding decades of "rampant,
systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption within FIFA
by the US justice department.
The Swiss authorities raid FIFA headquarters,
gathering data and documents for their separate
investigation into allegations of criminal
mismanagement and money laundering in
connection with the allocation of the 2018 and
2022 World Cup bids.
19:47
The Fifa structure
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
So the above graphic shows the current structure
of Fifa. That may not be the case in the future.
In announcing his decision to quit, current
president Sepp Blatter said: "The executive
committee includes representatives from
federations over whom we have no control but for
whose actions Fifa is being held responsible. We
need deep-rooted structural change."
19:50
Key dates in Blatter's downfall
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
November 2014: Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman
of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA's independent
ethics committee, publishes a 42-page summary
of Garcia's investigation, effectively confirming
Russia and Qatar as World Cup hosts after finding
breaches by them were "of very limited scope".
FIFA lodges a criminal complaint with the Swiss
attorney general over "possible misconduct" by
individuals but insists the investigation into the
bidding process for the two World Cups is
concluded. Garcia calls the summary "incomplete
and erroneous" and launches an appeal against it.
December 2014 : Garcia loses his appeal against
Eckert's review of his report and resigns as FIFA's
independent ethics investigator, criticising FIFA's
"lack of leadership" and saying he cannot change
the culture of the world governing body.
FIFA executives agree to publish a "legally
appropriate version" of the report. This has yet to
happen.
19:45
Key dates in Blatter's downfall
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
July 2012: FIFA commissions a report into
allegations of corruption in world football which is
led by former US attorney and newly appointed
head of FIFA'S ethics committee Michael Garcia.
June 2014: The Sunday Times reports it has
received "hundreds of millions" of documents
which it claims reveal that disgraced former FIFA
executive committee member Bin Hammam had
made payments to football officials in return for
votes for Qatar.
September 2014: Garcia completes his 430-page
report into corruption allegations and sends it to
FIFA.
19:42
Second time lucky for Ginola?
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Right, back to Sepp Blatter quitting as Fifa
president.
And it could be second time lucky for David
Ginola. The former Newcastle, Tottenham and
Aston Villa midfielder, backed by a betting
company, announced his intention to run for the
Fifa presidency in January before withdrawing two
weeks' later.
But the Frenchman is back. And he has already
stated his intention to stand as a candidate in the
forthcoming Fifa presidential election.
19:30
Key dates in Blatter's downfall
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
December 2010: Russia is awarded the 2018
World Cup and Qatar gets the 2022 hosting rights,
days after the BBC broadcasts a Panorama expose
of FIFA.
May 2011: FIFA suspends presidential candidate
Mohamed Bin Hammam and vice-president Jack
Warner pending an investigation into claims they
offered financial incentives to members of the
Caribbean Football Union. It drops a complaint
against Blatter.
The Qatar 2022 team deny any wrongdoing with
their winning bid, saying their name has been
"dragged through the mud for no reason".
June 2011: Bin Hammam is found guilty of bribery
and banned from all international and national
football activity for life. Warner escapes
investigation after resigning from his position.
19:39
Ferdinand on Gill
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has
tweeted: David Gill.....do the honourable thing &
please step forward
19:22
Ancelotti rejects AC Milan interest
Football
Once again we briefly step away from the Sepp
Blatter news and this time our focus is on AC
Milan.
Carlo Ancelotti, whose old job in charge of Real
Madrid is set to be taken by Rafael Benitez (see
19:00 BST), has been talking about potentially
taking charge at AC Milan.
Ancelotti, who was in charge of AC Milan from
2001 to 2009, writes on Twitter: I thank AC Milan
for their interest. It's hard to say no to a club that
I love so well. I have to rest. I wish you the best."
So, that a no from Ancelotti then.
19:24
Gill to reconsider position
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Johnny and Rhys you may be on to something
as...
Football Association vice-chairman David Gill
rejected a place on Fifa's executive committee
while Sepp Blatter is president.
But the former Manchester United chief executive
has said he will reconsider his position to sit on
the committee as Britain's Fifa vice-president.
"I fully welcome today's news as a major step
forward for FIFA on the road to proper reform.
"I respect Mr Blatter's decision but am pleased he
is standing aside and by the clear determination
for real change within FIFA. This in turn allows me
to reconsider my position.
"Having yet to confirm formally my resignation, I
am willing to play my part in helping to bring
about a positive future for FIFA and to work with
the many people within the organisation who are
only committed to developing and promoting the
game around the world.
19:19
Get involved #bbcsportsday
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Rodgers Wabito: Reports of Sepp Blatter's
resignation from Fifa sounds like April Fools' Day
joke. Felt like he would cling to power till death.
Jonny Wright: David Gill for new FIFA president.
He'd do a brilliant job and has already
demonstrated his commitment for a transparent
FIFA.
Rhys Tomlinson: Blatter out. David Gill in please.
Hopefully this will also include no more bias
towards the Spanish league.
FIFPro welcome Blatter's resignation
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Statement from world football players' union
FIFPro on Blatter's resignation.
"FIFPro welcomes the decision of FIFA President
Sepp Blatter to resign as this creates an overdue
and unique opportunity to fundamentally reform
the governance of football.
"The world's professional footballers, through
FIFPro, have a pivotal role to play in the structural
overhaul of football. We are deeply committed to
achieving this critical outcome in conjunction with
all of the game's key stakeholders.
"FIFPro insists that only flawless governance will
be acceptable to protect the wellbeing of the
players and the integrity of the game. The reform
effort will fail without the direct involvement of the
players."
19:52
Fifpro react to news
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
The board of world football players' union FIFPro
watching the news that Sepp Blatter will resign as
FIFA President.
19:07
Fifa - the movie?
Football: Sepp Blatter quits as Fifa president
Former England defender Graeme Le Saux is not
taking Sepp Blatter's announcement too seriously.
On Twitter he jokes: "All the ingredients here for
a Hollywood blockbuster or 5 series HBO drama.
Danny Devito (pictured) is made for role of Blatter.
But what title?"