Sepp Blatter has announced that he will resign as president of football’s governing body Fifa, following the arrest of 14 high ranking officials on charges of bribery and corruption in the US.

Swiss authorities have also launched an investigation into the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar.

The 79-year-old was re-elected last week, despite presiding over a period that has seen Fifa engulfed in a variety of scandals and continued allegations of corruption.

In a speech at Fifa headquarters in Zurich, Blatter said that he had decided to resign as his re-election had not been supported by everybody, with UEFA one of the many groups calling for his resignation.

He said:

“I am very much linked to Fifa and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision.

“What counts most to me is the institute of Fifa and football around the world.”