Sepp Blatter Resigns from FIFA Thanks to The Onion and John Oliver

Sepp Blatter just announced to resign from FIFA and a new President will be elected.

The public pressure on FIFA President Sepp Blatter got to big. After just getting re-elected on Friday amidst the biggest scandal in FIFA history he resigned today.

The FIFA site carries a statement saying: “FIFA President Blatter today announced at a press conference in Zurich that he will lay down his mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. Until that election, he continues to carry out his functions. The FIFA President also announced a significant reform program to be driven by Domenico Scala, the Independent Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee.”

Soccer fans around the world just collectively released a sigh. The FBI had arrested several FIFA officials last week on corruption charges. This week a new document surfaced that puts a close aid of Blatter at a center of a $10 million bribery scandal. What triggered exactly Blatter’s resignation is not clear. He was immune against public opinion so far. Maybe it was the fake The Onion Story that former FIFA VP Jack Warner thought is real. Or maybe it was John Oliver’s FIFA report from Sunday that changed Blatter’s mind.

John Oliver summarizes nicely in his report why Sepp Blatter had to resign.