FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced in Zurich, Switzerland Tuesday that his presidency of world football's governing body -- which began in 1998 -- will come to an end.
Below is a full transcript of the speech he gave to gathered reporters.
"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 organization. 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 organize 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 must 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. Mr. 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."
國際足聯主席布拉特6月2日在瑞士蘇黎世宣告他的足聯主席平生行將停止，他自1998年起擔負國際足聯主席。
如下是他對媒體記者的演講全文。
“我一向在深入回想本身的主席平生，和我性命中和FIFA和足球這項巨大活動相幹的這40年。我珍愛FIFA賽過任何事物，我只想做對FIFA和足球最有益的工作。我以前感到本身必需加入主席競選，就像我以為這是對這一構造最有益的工作。如今這推舉已停止了，但FIFA的挑釁並未停止，FIFA如今須要一次龐大的徹查。”
“我固然博得了FIFA的任期，但我感到，本身並無得到全部足球天下付與的任期，球迷們、球員們、俱樂部、那些在生存中呼吸和酷愛著足球的人們，他們就像咱們在FIFA的人同樣酷愛足球。”
“是以，我做出決議，卸去本身的任職，啟動特別推舉法式。在此次重選以前，我將持續實行FIFA主席的職責。”
“下次FIFA的例行大會將於2016年5月13日在墨西哥城舉辦，這會造成沒必要要的遷延，我會請求執委會構造一次特別推舉法式，及早選出我的繼任者。這須要在FIFA的相幹劃定下完成，咱們會給絕佳候選人們留出充足的時光，來展現本身，來睜開競選運動。”
“由於我將再也不是候選人，天然也不會再遭到由於推舉而帶來的一些弗成防止的限定。我會專註於推進影響深遠的主要改造事情，持續咱們以前的盡力。多年來，咱們一向盡力舉行行政改造，但我很清晰，這些改造必需持續下去，今朝做得還不敷。”
“FIFA執委會包括列國足協的代表，對付他們，咱們是無力掌握的，但他們的行動，FIFA卻要承當義務。咱們須要舉行基本上的構造性轉變。執委會的範圍必需被縮減，成員必需經由過程FIFA大會來舉行推舉。對付全部執委會成員的檢察，必需由FIFA來舉行構造，而不是由列國足協來完成，咱們不但須要FIFA主席有任期，執委會全部委員也必需有任期。”
“以前我為了這些轉變曾戰役過，但如全部人所知，我的盡力碰到了停滯。”
“這一次，我會獲得勝利。”
“我一小我做不到這些，我已請求多米尼克-斯卡拉來監視這些舉動的實行和履行。斯卡拉是由FIFA選出的自力審計委員會的主席，他也是暫時推舉委員會的主席，會監視我的繼任者的推舉進程。他在FIFA表裏享有普遍的信賴，具有贊助推進改造的常識和履歷。”
“對付FIFA及其好處，我深入關心，這終極讓我做出了這個決議(告退)。我想感激一向支撐我作為FIFA主席的那些人，和那些為了咱們所酷愛的足球做出了那末多進獻的人們。”
“對我來講，最主要的是，當這統統灰塵落準時，足球將成為贏家。”
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