LAUSANNE: Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee reacted to Sepp Blatter’s promised departure from FIFA as a step in the right direction for the world football federation writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Blatter is a long-serving member of the IOC who will not face enforced retirement from the Olympic governing body until he reaches the age of 80 next spring.

He and Bach were both proteges in sports politics of the late Host Dassler, scion of the Adidas empire and one of the creators of the ‘brave new world’ of sports marketing and financial power.

Last Thursday Bach was among the guests of honour at the opening ceremony of the FIFA Congress which saw Blatter re-elected.

In an address, Bach warned FIFA that it needed to undergo the game-changing experience which the IOC had undergone in the wake of the Salt Lake Cty scandal 15 years ago.

Thus Bach responded positively to Blatter’s sudden announcement.

He said: “We have great respect for the decision of president Blatter, to resign in order to initiate the necessary reforms and to make room for a new FIFA leadership that is driving these changes.”

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