Sepp Blatter Says He Hasn't Resigned as FIFA President: Latest Details, Reaction

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has hinted at potentially reversing his decision to give up the top job in football's governing body.

Despite seemingly resigning his post in a June 2 announcement against a backdrop of corruption claims against FIFA, 79-year-old Blatter has now thrown this into some doubt.

He has insisted to Swiss newspaper Blick (h/t Eurosport's Tom Adams) that he has not, in fact, resigned as FIFA President: "I have not resigned. Rather, I have made my mandate available at an extraordinary congress."

The inference seems to be that the Swiss could stand again in the next presidential elections, despite him expressing the contrary in June when he seemingly announced—four days after being re-elected—that he would be stepping down, per FIFA:

"

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.

"

He also noted in his June 2 announcement that he would "not be a candidate" at the next election.

The Press Association's Martyn Ziegler reports a source suggesting that this is still very much the case:

However, Blatter's latest comments do come on the back of a recent report from BBC Sport's Dan Roan suggesting he was considering standing again in the upcoming election, expected to be in mid-December.

Blatter has a tainted reputation in many parts of the footballing world after 17 years as FIFA President, and many are unsurprised at his attempts at a U-turn, including the Guardian's Owen Gibson:

Many see Blatter's removal as president as the only way to begin cleaning up the organisation that is currently under investigations of corruption by American and Swiss authorities, per Adams.

However, he does have great support in Africa and Asia—hence his longevity—and it seems there are many who would like to see him stay on.

Blatter will not go quietly, and based on recent comments, perhaps not at all. Only when a new figure is confirmed as FIFA president will his long reign be categorically over.