Fam mum on Blatter resignation calls, as World Cup kicks-off tonight

FAM says it is yet to come up with its position on Fifa president Joseph Sepp-Blatter who has been urged to quit next year by some global member football associations.

Blatter is being asked to stand down following what associations say the damage corruption allegations have inflicted on the world football’s governing body.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) second vice-president Pikawo Ngalamila was responding to a question on its position after some European football associations had openly told him to resign or not seek re-election next year.

“As of now, we do not have a solid position because we reckon elections are next year.

“We are not an island, we’ll have to wait for our president Walter Nyamilandu and GS Suzgo Nyirenda—who are attending a Fifa congress in Brazil—to tell us what will transpire and then map the way forward,” he said.

He added: “As an association, we’ll also have to seek views from CAF and Cosafa—which we are affiliated to as well as our affiliates—before coming up with a decision. Only after that would we have a policy position.”

The world football governing body boss is under pressure from member associations over corruption allegations levelled against Fifa leadership in awarding Qatar the rights to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

Michael van Praag, boss of the Dutch Football Association, told Blatter he should not seek re-election in 2015.

“Few people still take Fifa seriously and, however you look at it, Blatter is mainly responsible,” Van Praag was quoted by the BBC.

Greg Dyke, chairperson of the English FA, said Blatter’s response to corruption claims over Qatar 2022 was worrying.

The Sunday Times of Britain alleges disgraced Qatari football official Mohamed Bin Hammam made illegal payments to football officials in return for their support for Qatar’s successful World Cup bid.

“These allegations need to be properly investigated and properly answered,” said Dyke.

He added: “Mr Blatter, many of us are deeply troubled by your reaction to these allegations.”