Zurich, June 2 : FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday announced he will step down from football\'s governing body amid a corruption scandal, and also called for an extraordinary congress \"as early as possible\" at which a successor will be elected.

The Swiss announced his decision at a hastily-arranged press conference on Tuesday after his secretary-general Jerome Valcke was earlier implicated in the US Department of Justice\'s investigations into a $10 million payment to indicted former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, reports goal.com.

\"I have thoroughly thought about my presidency and the 40 years FIFA has played in my life. I love FIFA more than anything else and I only want to do the best. I decided to stand again for election for the good of football,\" Blatter said.

\"My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody. This is why I will call an extraordinary meeting. I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand.\"

\"I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.\"

\"We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.\"

Blatter has been president since 1998, and was re-elected for a fifth term only four days before his resignation.

Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA president