FAM welcomes Blatter’s exit
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has welcomed Fifa president Joseph-Sepp Blatter’s resignation, saying the image of football was at stake.
Blatter stepped down as Fifa boss on Tuesday evening in the wake of corruption, wire fraud and money laundering allegations against the world soccer governing body.
“It’s shocking, but not surprising. That was the honourable thing to do under the circumstances, it was only a matter of time.
“We welcome his resignation for the good of the game, otherwise the image of football was at stake. It’s the only way to restore the image and trust of Fifa,” said Nyamilandu yesterday.
Nevertheless, the FAM boss hailed Blatter for leaving a legacy, saying: “We will fondly remember him for the development agenda he did for Africa and Malawi in particular. The Goal Projects at Chiwembe and in Mzuzu are credited to his leadership.”
He said FAM executive committee will soon meet to discuss Blatter’s resignation and scrutinise potential candidates before determining on who to support ahead of an extraordinary Fifa Congress to elect a new president.
Asked which candidate he voted for during the recent elections in Zurich, Switzerland, Nyamilandu said: “It remains a secret vote”.
Soccer analyst and former FAM general secretary Charles Nyirenda said: “There comes a time when a situation becomes untenable. With the well calculated FBI onslaught on Fifa, timed perfectly to inflict maximum embarrassment on the institution and meant to create friction between the executive arm of the organisation on one hand and its stakeholders on the other, it became clear that in the interest of the game, it was proper for him to resign and pave the way for a different person to take over.
“Had he stayed, the sustained campaign against Fifa was never going to stop and that was going to seriously affect the relationship between Fifa and its sponsors due to negative publicity.”
In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old said: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody. I am very much linked to Fifa and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and that is why I am taking this decision.
“What counts to me is the institute of Fifa and football around the world.”
His resignation came four days after being re-elected to a fifth term.
