FIFA’s head steps down, but fans are not out

The most powerful man in soccer walks away &#8212 with investigators close behind.

It only took four days for the most powerful man in the world of soccer to go from the thrill of victory to the humiliation of self-removal.

Sepp Blatter, the head of the world soccer organization, known by the initials FIFA, decided to resign despite just being re-elected to a fifth term.

Or if I understand soccer, he essentially called himself off-sides after scoring what looked like the winning goal.

Here’s part of his statement through a translator.

“FIFA needs a profound restructuring, although the members of FIFA have given me a new mandate &#8212 they have reelected me as president &#8212 this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football.”

No one’s quite sure what made him change his mind.

Maybe he was spooked by the most recent reports from the investigation.

There was a report that last week’s federal indictment alleging $10 million in bribes to senior soccer officials might include evidence leading directly to FIFA headquarters, although no one has drawn a direct link to Blatter.

Glenn Gerstner, who chairs the Department of Sports Management at St. John’s University, says we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg so far.

“We’re probably going to get a lot more information once they’ve all raised their right hand and have had to testify under oath,” Gerstner said.

But in the end, as outrageous as it is to think that anyone would take a bribe to award the location of the world cup, he thinks the fans won’t care.

“Even with the amount of money &#8212 tens of millions of dollars that are being thrown around &#8212 I think when the games get played, the fans can get a ball out, they will root for their country, they will root for their club.”

Scarves up everybody.