London: Why did Sepp Blatter resign only four days after being re-elected? It was a dramatic change of position from a man who had not shown any self-doubt in 17 years as Fifa president. His response to separate corruption investigations into Fifa being conducted in the United States and Switzerland had until yesterday been indignant.

So what changed? He said it had become clear to him that, while he had a mandate from Fifa members, he did not have a mandate from the wider footballing world. For that reason, he said, he was standing down to make way for a fresh election at which he would not stand.

Being unpopular with the public had not bothered him before? Exactly, which is why many will suspect the only reason he has now resigned is that he feared the FBI or Swiss corruption allegations were going to lead to his office.

How likely is that to happen?

A spokesman for the Swiss investigation — which is specifically concerned with allegations of bribery and vote-trading in the awarding of the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) World Cups — told Sky Sports that they were not specifically investigating Blatter. But if their investigation ultimately proves the World Cup bidding processes were corrupt, Blatter’s position as the official who oversaw them would have been untenable.

And the FBI probe?

Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, said Blatter’s resignation showed there must be a “smoking gun” in terms of evidence against him, and a report for ABC News in America said Blatter was definitely under FBI investigation. Blatter may have concerns that former allies who have been arrested might cooperate with investigators in order to secure more lenient treatment, and that their evidence could lead to further arrests among FIFA’s most powerful figures. Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke has been drawn into corruption allegations and that may have spooked Blatter further.

Is that the last we’ll see of Blatter? No. He said he would carry on in the role until the outcome of the new election. One intriguing question is whether he will travel to the Women’s World Cup in Canada. An ESPN documentary last month claimed he had not been to North America for four years because of the FBI investigation.

— The Daily Telegraph