Sepp Blatter stands down as Fifa president

Sepp Blatter, the controversial chief of Fifa, has resigned.

(Photo By Sepp Blatter celebrates his re-election last month. The triumph proved short-lived. Photo: Getty Images)

Sepp Blatter, the head of Fifa, football’s global governing body, has resigned. Blatter, who was relected last Friday, has unexpectedly stood down.

His re-election was opposed by Uefa, European football’s governing body, and a quarter of European FAs, raising the prospect of a breakaway by some of world football’s biggest teams. Chris Bryant, Labour’s shadow Culture Secretary, had called on the United Kingdom’s FAs to consider boycotting the World Cups in Russia and Qatar.