ZURICH, (Reuters) – FIFA’s director of communications Walter de Gregorio is to resign after making a joke on television about the scandal-hit soccer body, while pressure mounted for his boss Sepp Blatter to step aside at once.
The European Parliament said Blatter’s failure to depart immediately would block efforts to rid FIFA of rampant corruption.
The FIFA president announced his resignation last week as U.S. and Swiss authorities widened their investigations into bribery and corruption at the sport’s global governing body, but he is still at his desk.
EU lawmakers heaped pressure on Blatter, 79, voting in favour of an eight-page resolution with a series of demands to clean up soccer.
The resolution — non-binding but still indicative of public opinion in Europe — welcomed Blatter’s decision to resign, but expressed “serious concern” that he might stay on for a further nine months before a new leader is appointed.
The election to find a replacement for Blatter will take place in Zurich between December and February, FIFA announced, with the exact date decided at an executive committee meeting on July 20.
The soap opera at FIFA took another turn when it announced that De Gregorio was leaving two days after making a joke at FIFA’s expense on a Swiss chat show.
The Swiss-Italian, who had taken up his role September 2011, had become a prominent figure within FIFA as a mouthpiece for the organisation, appearing in public debates and on television.
He had fronted up to the media storm two weeks ago in the immediate aftermath of a dawn raid on the luxury hotel when seven soccer officials, wanted by United States prosecutors on corruption charges, were arrested by Swiss police.
He also introduced the news conference where Blatter announced his resignation and appeared close to tears as the departing president announced his exit.
PARTING SHOT
De Gregorio’s departure follows an appearance on Swiss TV when, at the end of the programme, he was asked to tell his favourite joke.
He replied: “The FIFA president, secretary general and media director are sitting in a car. Who’s driving. Answer? The police.”
A FIFA statement gave no reason for De Gregorio leaving what had become an increasingly thankless job of defending FIFA during the scandal.
“Walter has worked incredibly hard for the past four years and we are immensely grateful for all he has done,” said FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke.
The race to succeed Blatter gathered a new challenger on Wednesday when soccer great Zico formally declared his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, but the Brazilian admitted his chances of success were limited.
Under FIFA rules he needs the backing of five countries affiliated to world soccer’s governing body, which he does not yet have, while he said UEFA boss Michel Platini had advised him to run for head of the Brazilian Football Confederation instead.