SEPP BLATTER shockingly resigned as Fifa President yesterday, claiming that the negative reaction from the world of football made his leadership impossible.

Less than a week after controversially beating Ali bin al-Hussein to the presidency, the 79-year-old stepped down with immediate effect after 17 years in charge.

Blatter claimed that the negative reaction from the football world to his re-election gave him no choice but to walk away, with a new president to be elected at an “extraordinary congress.”

“I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the 40 years in which my life has been inextricably bound to Fifa and the great sport of football. I cherish Fifa more than anything and I want to do only what is best for Fifa and for football.

“I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but Fifa’s challenges are not. Fifa needs a profound overhaul.

“While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football — the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at Fifa. Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective congress.”

Chair of the Fifa audit and compliance committee Domenico Scala replaced Blatter on the stage to explain how the next president will be elected and future changes to football’s governing body.

“As the president has stated, these reforms will include fundamental changes to the way the organisation is structured,” said Scala.

“While the timing will ultimately be up to the executive committee, the timing of election is likely to be between December and March [2016].”

The storm of trouble for Fifa began when nine officials were arrested ahead of the presidential elections but Blatter had vowed to fight on and lead the effort to reform Fifa.

But with details emerging early yesterday of a letter which supports claims that $10 million was paid to former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner and his deputy Chuck Blazer in return for them voting for the 2010 World Cup to be played in South Africa, it now seems Blatter felt he had no option but to stand down.