SCANDAL// The soccer world is abuzz with the allegations that officials at FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) were engaged in racketeering, money laundering and other criminal activities. The officials at FIFA are engaged in a “24- year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer”, according to a statement released by the United States Department of Justice. They also hinted that some $10 million in transfer payments were sent from FIFA bank accounts in Switzerland to a Caribbean soccer organisation in 2008 and were used to pay bribes to secure votes for South Africa’s bid to host the World Cup in 2010. This could emerge as the most direct link between FIFA’s executive offices and the corruption probe shaking the world’s most popular sport. FIFA has declined to comment on any specific allegations made in the Justice Department’s indictment of 14 officials and executives of soccer confederations. Meanwhile three days after winning a fifth term as FIFA president in the aftermath of the arrest of leading FIFA officials, Sepp Blatter has announced his resignation as president of football’s world governing body. Blatter announced his resignation in a hastily arranged news conference in Zurich and said that a special election would be held between December 2015 and March 2016 to appoint his successor. “FIFA needs profound restructuring”, Blatter said. According to reports in South America, Diego Maradona wants to stand for FIFA presidency to succeed Blatter.