A scandal, followed by a shock. Sepp Blatter announced on Tuesday that he was resigning as Fifa president, in an announcement at what those in the business call a “hastily convened” press conference in Zurich. Blatter, looking sad and weary and all of his 79 years, said in a pre-prepared speech: “I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at Fifa. Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress.”
Sepp’s gone! After 16 years! People on the internet love a big breaking news story, particularly if there’s a healthy dash of schadenfreude thrown in. The gamut of reaction ranged from incredulity, to indignation, with some lolz thrown in for good measure. Here’s our pick of the best:
Luis Figo sees positive change coming
Change is finally coming. Let’s find a solution to start a new era of transparency and democracy in FIFA. http://t.co/XXYt1NfooH
— Luís Figo (@LuisFigo) June 2, 2015
Man City centre-back Vincent Kompany wants more ethics
Blatter wasn't sole responsible, more have to follow. Transparency and voting reform, then we move on and bring back ethics. #FIFA
— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) June 2, 2015
Ruud Gullit is outraged and thinks something is garbage
What kind of garbage is coming out for #blatter to step down as just elected president of FIFA?????
— Ruud Gullit (@GullitR) June 2, 2015
Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl is happy and sad at the same time
Great day for world soccer. But can FIFA be trusted to vote in a legitimate reformer to replace Blatter? The structure itself is rotten.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 2, 2015
Former England striker Gary Lineker goes all sarcastic
Blatter has resigned. Can't quite believe it. FIFA always appeared to be such a fine upstanding organisation.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 2, 2015
Gary Neville is brief
Why now Sepp?
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 2, 2015
ESPN’s Don van Natta goes for satire
Jack Warner is scanning The Onion for confirmation of this Sepp Blatter news.
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) June 2, 2015
NBC pundit Robbie Mustoe’s joy is deep
DEEP JOY!!!!!!! http://t.co/XmDbwIiZ74
— Robbie Mustoe (@robbiemustoe) June 2, 2015
But what about the jokes?
All of the Sepp Blatter puns have been made everybody
— Sarah Weinman (@sarahw) June 2, 2015
Hey, not so fast!
Sepp Blatter resigned so if you didn't get any name jokes in yet, now's your chance. I'll get the ball rolling. BLATT'S ALL FOLKS
— Dan Hopper (@DanHopp) June 2, 2015
Here’s another!
And the hits just keep on comin'! #BlatterJokes https://t.co/JclP4r3seB
— Mike Zimmers Ears (@MikeZimmersEars) May 29, 2015
The punning continues
Was it a leak that finally burst Blatter? #puns
— Jered Stuffco (@jstuffco) June 2, 2015
Guardian commenters do their bit
First comment under the Guardian live blog of Sepp Blatter resignation: 'Goooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' http://t.co/2IsrgCTMoG
— Katharine Viner (@KathViner) June 2, 2015
And Loretta Lynch gets maximum respect
Loretta Bleeping Lynch!
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) June 2, 2015
What next for Sepp?
#SeppBlatter nominates mysterious newcomer as successor pic.twitter.com/XvIuO2bKd7
— Laura Tisdall (@LauraTisdall) June 2, 2015
A tribute to Sepp’s legacy
For the displaced in Brazil, the dead migrant workers in Qatar, and the Palestinian soccer stars in chains, GOOD RIDDANCE Sepp Blatter!
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) June 2, 2015
And America is currently very popular
Thanks America from all football fans.. pic.twitter.com/LylF7SWD8J
— Neymar Jr. (@NeyMarvellous) June 2, 2015
