Chief Executive of the FAI John Delaney has said it is a good day for world soccer, following the news that Sepp Blatter is to step down as FIFA President, just days after being re-elected for a fifth term.
Mr Blatter announced the decision at a news conference in Zurich this evening, six days after the FBI arrested several FIFA officials in Zurich.
Mr Blatter has defiantly held off resignation calls for many months amid controversies over the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to Russia and Qatar and more recently over bribes allegedly taken by top soccer officials.
He has repeatedly pleaded his innocence and that of FIFA over the corruption.
Announcing his exist, the 79-year-old Swiss called an extraordinary FIFA congress "as soon as possible" to elect a new president.
"It’s a good day for world football but it’s now important that when debate moves on - and it is important that the debate moves on - that we use this opportunity to change the culture of FIFA," John Delaney told RTÉ Sport.
"The culture at FIFA was one of corruption, one of bribery. It had nothing to do with the beautiful game and as I described it last week, was more out of a mafia movie than football.
FA Chief Greg Dyke hailed the news as "great for football."
Mr Dyke, who told BBC World he lost faith in Mr Blatter last year, said he thought Mr Blatter realised the mounting corruption scandal that has engulfed world football's governing body "was getting close to him".
"It is a good afternoon. I think it's brilliant for world football. This is the start of something new," Mr Dyke said.
"The whole organisation of FIFA needs re-structuring. The whole organisation needs looking at financially. The future has got to be about transparency but this is great news today" he said.
Mr Dyke added that FIFA under Mr Blatter has done some good, including taking the World Cup to Africa for the first time in 2010.
However, he added, "It's all been done under a cloud of corruption and today it ends."
UEFA President Michel Platini praised Mr Blatter's "difficult", "brave" resignation.
The most powerful man in football http://t.co/VVrR1MOSkd pic.twitter.com/H1DS4BIP5K
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) June 2, 2015Prince Ali to stand in new FIFA presidency elections
Jordanian Prince Ali bin al Hussein will stand in new elections for the presidency of world football's governing body following today's announcement that Mr Blatter is to step down.
Prince Ali failed in his bid last week to oust Mr Blatter.
"As for new elections, Prince Ali is ready," Sala Sabra, vice-president of the Jordanian football federation told AFP.
