Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter regrets overstaying his tenure

Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, forced out as head of world football's governing body amid a corruption scandal in 2015, admitted yesterday he regretted not stepping down earlier

Sepp Blatter

Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, forced out as head of world football's governing body amid a corruption scandal in 2015, admitted yesterday he regretted not stepping down earlier.

The 81-year-old was banned over ethics breaches, bringing an end to his 17-year reign as FIFA chief, following a suspect two million Swiss franc ($2 million, 1.8 million euro) payment to ex-UEFA president Michel Platini.

"I should have stopped myself earlier," Blatter said, adding that his ousting as FIFA boss was "a relief". Blatter, who was re-elected for a fifth term in May 2015 before promptly announcing his plans to resign, recalled the editor-in-chief of a Swiss magazine warning him the role of FIFA president had an expiration date.

"'At your place the date is 2014', he told me, and I said to him that sometimes it's written that the product can be consumed beyond this date if it's stored in a cool place," Blatter said.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!