London - England's Football Association and government urged FIFA president Sepp Blatter to resign on Thursday, as British investigative journalists were praised for helping to expose a major corruption scandal.
"Sepp Blatter has to go as FIFA president," Greg Dyke, chairman of the FA, football's governing body in England, told the Press Association news agency.
"There is no way of rebuilding trust in FIFA while Sepp Blatter is still there.
"He either has to go through a resignation, or he has to be out-voted or we have to find a third way."
British sports minister John Whittingdale supported the FA's position in an urgent debate in parliament, telling lawmakers: "A change in the leadership of FIFA is very badly needed".
Whittingdale urged sponsors to review their ties with FIFA and said Britain's Serious Fraud Office was examining the allegations made by US and Swiss authorities in a scandal that has engulfed the sport.
"(The SFO) will have heard the calls today. I understand, certainly, that they are looking at it," he said.
Asked about a possible re-run of England's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup, which was won by Russia, he said: "I think it is too soon to say that there should be a re-run of the competition but we should wait and see what the outcome of the investigation is."
AFP
