BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Blatter announced his resignation on Tuesday, just four days after he was reelected for a fifth term as head of the international football governing body.
"I have taken note of the latest developments at FIFA. They represent one step in a long process that it now has to follow to restore trust and establish a solid system of good governance at FIFA… I believe we should support fundamental change and ensure that solid solutions are put in place," Navracsics said, commenting on the Blatter's resignation.
He also added that the European Commission is set to find ways to assist in reforming the organization.
"We owe it to the millions of fans in Europe and beyond, who love sport — and who deserve so much better. We will develop the close cooperation we have built with a broad range of sport organisations and Member States to strengthen sport's place in society and fight the big threats to its integrity," Navracsics stressed.
On May 27, seven FIFA officials were arrested in Switzerland on corruption charges, two days before the organization's presidential election. The arrests were carried out by Swiss authorities based on a US federal corruption warrant.
Blatter, FIFA president since 1998, currently is neither indicted by the US Justice Department, nor identified as a target in the investigation.
Bern launched a separate investigation into the selection process of World Cup host countries, particularly Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
