I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty 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 mandatefrom the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breatheand love football as much as we all do at FIFA.
Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. Iwill continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.
The next ordinary FIFA Congress will take place on 13 May 2019 in Mexico City. This wouldcreate unnecessary delay and I will urge the Executive Committee to organise anExtraordinary Congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity. This willneed to be done in line with FIFA's statutes and we must allow enough time for the bestcandidates to present themselves and to campaign.
Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that electionsinevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms thattranscend our previous efforts. For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrativereforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough.
The Executive Committee includes representatives of confederations over whom we have nocontrol, but for whose actions FIFA is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structuralchange.
The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its members should be electedthrough the FIFA Congress. The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members mustbe organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations. We need term limitsnot only for the president but for all members of the Executive Committee.
I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked.This time, I will succeed.
I cannot do this alone. I have asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction andimplementation of these and other measures. Mr. Scala is the Independent Chairman of ourAudit and Compliance Committee elected by the FIFA Congress. He is also the Chairman of thead hoc Electoral Committee and, as such, he will oversee the election of my successor. Mr.Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of constituents within and outside of FIFA andhas all the knowledge and experience necessary to help tackle these major reforms.
It is my deep care for FIFA and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take thisdecision. I would like to thank those who have always supported me in a constructive andloyal manner as President of FIFA and who have done so much for the game that we all love.What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner.