Platini: Brave Blatter right to resign

Michel Platini has backed Sepp Blatter for taking the decision to resign as Fifa president, describing it as "brave" but also the "right" call.

Blatter had been under pressure to stand down following the arrest of seven Fifa officials as part of an FBI-led investigation into alleged corruption within the game's governing body, with even Platini himself begging the 79-year-old to quit.

However, Blatter stood firm and was re-elected as president on Friday, securing a fifth term after the withdrawal of sole rival Prince Ali bin al-Hussein following the Jordanian's conclusive defeat in the first round of voting.

Fifa was hit by further scandal on Tuesday when it emerged that secretary general Jerome Valcke, one of Blatter's most prominent colleagues, received a letter about an alleged $10 million dollar bribe sent by South African officials to an account controlled by former vice-president Jack Warner in return for support of the country's successful bid to stage the 2010 World Cup.

Blatter attended a hastily arranged press conference, at which he announced that he would be resigning "as soon as possible" and that he would call an Extraordinary Congress to find a successor.

Platini said in a statement: "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision." The former France international had stated last week that Blatter, whose 17-year-tenure has been repeatedly marked by controversy, need to go for the good of the game.

"I told Sepp Blatter to leave, to step down, because he is giving Fifa a terrible image," Platini said.

"It’s not easy to tell a friend that he must leave but that is the way history is going.

"I’m saying this with sadness, with tears in my eyes. There have been too many scandals."