Football fans on Wednesday described Sepp Blatter’s decision to step down as the President of FIFA, four days after he was re-elected as a good development for the image of the sport.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 79-year-old Blatter has come under severe criticism after series of corruption allegations levelled against top officials of the world governing body.
Blatter announced his decision on June 2, calling for an extraordinary congress “as rapidly as possible’’ at which his successor will be selected.
The stakeholders who spoke to NAN said the development would help to restore the credibility of the body.
Amiesimaka Adokiye, a former Green Eagles ace winger, said Blatter was taking the right step to resign, noting that “FIFA as a body is bigger than one person.
“Blatter is on his way to a proper resignation at the right time.
“He will jeopardise the body if he does not take the right step by resigning.
“This is the best international tactics for such decisions, his stay no doubt has been credible because he had been on the seat for 17 years so he knows all about the politics,’’ he said.
Adegboye Onigbinde, a FIFA licenced Grade A Coach, said that the development did not come as a surprise.
He noted that the series of negative events that rocked the body was a sign of the development.
“I knew something was up when Jack Wanner, the vice and long-time friend told him to resign, but this case has been on for long until the U.S. started picking up culprits.
“If the whistle blower did not mention Blatters name, he might not have owned up, you can deceive some but you can’t deceive all.’’
Bright Omokaro, a former Super Eagles player, said that Blatter had overstayed in the office and needed to step down for another person.
“His resignation has everybody dangling on the edge of their sit more than when he won the election some days back.
“This shows that people are already clamouring for a new head.
“Although he has done well in the office during his stay but he feels that it is time to resign from the office,’’ he said.
Also, a former Super Eagles player, Edema Fuludu, told NAN that Blatter’s plan to step down was the right thing to do following the ongoing investigation.
“For a transparent proceeding his resignation was expected.
“FIFA has a reputation bigger than any individual to protect. Football is in the eyes of the world.
“It’s the most popular sport in the world and so, we should set the pace for others to learn from.
“This may never happen in Africa or Nigeria, generally Africans don’t resign and that’s why we are where we are today.
“Some of our leaders are not responsible enough to take blame,’’ he said.
In the same vein, Dele Ologbese, Vice-Chairman, Ondo State Football Association, hailed Blatter for taking a bold step.
Ologbese said that his resignation was long overdue, noting that it was a good omen for football development in the world.
“I want to congratulate the football family on this development.
“My advice is that whoever is going to step into his shoes must be thoroughly scrutinised,’’ he said.
The chairman urged Issa Hayatou, President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) to follow suit.
“People of his age should retire from football to allow African football to develop; I don’t see any difference between CAF and FIFA, both Blatter and Hayatou are the same.
“CAF needs re-engineering, we have a lot of rot in CAF that is not opened,’’ he said. (NAN)
