Sepp Blatter said that his decision to step down as FIFA president was “liberating” and that he expected the election to replace him to be held in early 2016. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Walliser Bote that was published Saturday, Blatter explained why he announced on June 2 his planned exit amid American and Swiss investigations of corruption in global soccer.
“It was the only way to take away the pressure from FIFA and my employees,” Blatter said, adding that there was also pressure from sponsors. Blatter was asked “hand on heart” if he would renege on his promise to go.