Sepp Blatter has sensationally announced his intention to resign as the head of FIFA after a 17-year career that has ended in infamy.
In an astonishing announcement at FIFA HQ in Zurich this evening, Blatter revealed that he will call an emergency congress of FIFA executives to vote in his replacement.
While no timetable has yet been set for the election, officials have said it could take place any time between December this year and March next year. Blatter will continue in his role until then.
At a hastily organised press conference this evening, Blatter said: 'I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football. I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football.
I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but FIFA's challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul.
'While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA.
'Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.
'The next ordinary FIFA Congress will take place on 13 May 2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the Executive Committee to organise an Extraordinary Congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity.
'This will need to be done in line with FIFA's statutes and we just allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign.
Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that elections inevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts.
'For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough.
'The Executive Committee includes representatives of confederations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions FIFA is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change.
'The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its members should be elected through the FIFA Congress.
The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations. We need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the Executive Committee.
'I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked.
'This time, I will succeed. I cannot do this alone. I have asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction and implementation of these and other measures.
The 'belated' resignation of Sepp Blatter is 'only the beginning of the process of change we need to see'
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale
'[Domenico Scala] is the Independent Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee elected by the FIFA Congress.
'He is also the Chairman of the ad hoc Electoral Committee and, as such, he will oversee the election of my successor.
'Mr. Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of constituents within and outside of FIFA and has all the knowledge and experience necessary to help tackle these major reforms.
'It is my deep care for FIFA and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision.
'I would like to thank those who have always supported me in a constructive and loyal manner as President of FIFA and who have done so much for the game that we all love.
'What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner.'
The 'belated' resignation of Sepp Blatter as Fifa's president is 'only the beginning of the process of change we need to see', Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has said.
Born on March 10, 1936 in the Swiss town of Visp.
Early Career
Graduated from the Sion and St Maurice colleges in Switzerland and then secured a Bachelor of Business Administration and Economics degree from the Faculty of Law at Lausanne University.
Was an active footballer from 1948-1971, playing in Swiss amateur leagues. He was a member of the board of Neuchatel Xamax soccer club from 1970-1975.
Blatter began his professional career as Head of Public Relations of the Valaisan Tourist Board in Switzerland and in 1964 became General Secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation.
As Director of Sports Timing and Public Relations at watch and timings firm Longines, he was involved in the organisation of the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, getting his first taste of the international sports scene.
At FIFA
Became FIFA secretary general in 1981 and, after 17 years serving under Joao Havelange, replaced the Brazilian as president in 1998.
Faced trouble in 2002 when FIFA's then secretary general Michel Zen-Ruffinen said Blatter's 1998 election victory was based on bribery and corruption and that FIFA was being financially mismanaged at the highest levels. Blatter denied the allegations.
Beat Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, president of the Asian confederation, in the 2002 presidential election before being returned unopposed in 2007.
In 2004 Blatter attracted scorn from the women's game when he suggested women players should wear tighter shorts.
Won a fourth term in 2011 when challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar was barred from FIFA on bribery charges.
Blatter has survived a series of scandals during his term in office including widespread accusations that Qatar bought the right to stage the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar have always denied any wrongdoing.
Faced FIFA's ethics committee in 2011 in the wake of the bribery scandal that led to Bin Hammam's life ban. Blatter was never accused of being involved in the bribery, but there were allegations he know of its existence and did not act.
All charges against him were dismissed.
2015 Election
In 2011 Blatter said he would retire four years later, but instead sought a fifth term of office and won the election on May 29, 2015 after his only rival Prince Ali bin Al Hussein withdrew following a first round of voting where the Swiss was clearly in the lead.
Despite widespread calls for Blatter's resignation after what was described as the worst day in FIFA's history, when seven serving officials were arrested on bribery charges two days before the 2015 election, he told delegates: 'Football needs a strong and experienced leader.
'One that knows all the ins and outs and can work with our partners'.
Overcoming opposition from European soccer's governing body UEFA, who threatened at one point to boycott the Congress, he was duly elected for another four years.
Blatter said on Tuesday at a hastily-arranged news conference that he would resign as president, six days after the FBI raided a hotel in Zurich and arrested several FIFA officials.
'FIFA has been my life ... what counts most for me is FIFA and football around the world,' he said. 'An extraordinary Congress is to be called to elect my successor as soon as possible.'
The sudden departure of the head of world football's governing body just days after being re-elected to the role - despite the arrests of Fifa officials on suspicion of decades of bribe-taking - was warmly welcomed by UK politicians.
Prime Minister David Cameron was among those who had publicly called for him to go amid widespread demands from critics for the controversial decisions to award World Cups to Russia and Qatar to be reopened.
He's stood down. He's gone. Let’s celebrate
Greg Dyke
Mr Whittingdale said: 'Governments, national associations and international confederations, along with players and fans, have all called for Sepp Blatter to resign in recent days.
'We welcome his belated announcement today but this is only the beginning of the process of change we need to see from Fifa.
'I sincerely hope this is the first step to a new Fifa that can command the confidence and respect of the football world once again.'
Speaking to Sky News this evening, FA chairman Greg Dyke, who had been pressing for Blatter to step down, hailed it as a 'great day for football'.
He said: 'It is great for football worldwide and great for football here. We could not have sorted out FIFA while he was there.
'It is a deeply flawed and possibly corrupt organisation the reform that is necessary was not going to happen while he was there.'
Mr Dyke added that questions are now likely to be raised over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, saying the organisers 'will not be sleeping well tonight'.
Other footballing figures such as Gary Lineker, former FA executive Adrian Bevington, and Uefa president Michael Platini have all lined up to hail Blatter's decision to step down.
Blatter is currently under the microscope as the FBI investigate whether bribes were authorised by the world governing body.
It comes on the day FIFA was plunged into fresh turmoil after an explosive letter appeared to contradict its claims that Sepp Blatter's right-hand man was not involved in the payment of an alleged $10million bribe.
The payment is at the heart of an FBI probe which claims the money was given to disgraced former vice-president Jack Warner and his deputy Chuck Blazer in return for them voting for the 2010 World Cup to be played in South Africa.
Secretary general Jerome Valcke was last night suspected of signing off the payment, but FIFA issued a statement this morning robustly denying he had any involvement.
They insisted it was instead authorised by Julio Grondona, the former finance chief and Blatter's long-time ally who died last year.
However, just an hour later, a letter from the South African Football Association emerged that appeared to blow apart those claims.
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