FIFA corruption storm grows; Blatter gets ovation

Zurich

FIFA staff gave Sepp Blatter a standing ovation yesterday even as his resignation failed to quell a corruption storm that could not touch world football's fallen leader.

About 400 staff at the FIFA headquarters applauded the 79-year-old Swiss official the day after Blatter announced he would step down.

"There was a long ovation lasting several minutes and Mr Blatter was very emotional," a FIFA spokesman told AFP.

Blatter's close associate the combative secretary general Jerome Valcke told French radio he feels no guilt over a $10 million transfer to a disgraced official being investigated by US authorities. He said he would not immediately follow Blatter's example and resign.

The FIFA president's departure stunned the football world, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now looking into Blatter's role in tens of millions of dollars of bribes given to football officials, according to US media.

Most Wanted

 Interpol meanwhile put six other suspects, including two former FIFA executive members, on its most wanted list.

Critics of the 79-year-old Swiss official rejoiced at his thunderbolt announcement on Tuesday that he would stand down as soon as an election can be held to find a successor. No vote is expected before December.

His decision sparked a global race to take over as head of the world's richest and most powerful sporting federation.

South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-Joon, Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who was beaten by Blatter in a vote last Friday, and Brazilian football legend Zico all said they could take part. Most eyes remain on Michel Platini, the UEFA president and who failed in his bid as kingmaker last week, who has not given a hint of his plans.

Blatter, who has ruled FIFA for 17 years, won a fifth term in an election on Friday. But renewed criticism of his reign and new corruption revelations about FIFA forced him into a corner.