The president of football’s governing body has spoken in the midst of 14 arrests of FIFA officials, and ahead of Friday’s presidential election.
Blatter spoke publicly for the first time since the raids on FIFA Wednesday morning.
Fourteen officials were arrested by the Swiss authorities and FBI over claims of ‘rampant, systemic and deep-rooted’ corruption.
Blatter has admitted that FIFA are in ‘unprecedented and difficult’ times, but insists he is not responsible for the situation.
He said: “You will agree with me that these are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA. The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this congress.
“Actions of individuals have proven to bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all. We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer. It has to stop here.
“I know many people hold me responsible. I cannot monitor everyone all the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it.”
Despite claiming he is not involved in any alleged wrongdoing, the Swiss says he is ‘sure’ that more bad news will follow.
However, he insists that those who are corrupt within the organisation and within the sport are in a ‘minority’, and that he is the man to begin rebuilding trust, starting after tomorrow’s presidential election.
He added: “The next few months will not be easy. I am sure more bad news will follow.
Meanwhile, Jack Warner, a former FIFA Vice-President from Trinidad and Tobago who was one of the key figures in a massive corruption probe on Wednesday, turned himself in to the police.
The Trinidad Attorney Office on Thursday in Port-of-Spain said this was after a U.S. arrest warrant and extradition request was issued.
It said Warner faces 12 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering, and the court set bail at 2.5 million dollars.
A report from the office said not been released as he had yet to surrender his passport.
It said when released, he could have to report twice a week to the Arouca Police Station in Port-of-Spain. Magistrate Marcie Ayers-Caesar has set July 9 for the next court session.
The Ministry of Justice in the Caribbean nation had been cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice for about a year on Warner’s alleged involvement.
It said Warner, 72, who led the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) 1990-2011, has for long been involved in corruption allegations.
It said it was his resignation from FIFA in 2011 that stopped a more thorough investigation of his alleged offences. The ministry said Warner once served as the twin-island-nation’s national security minister.
The ministry also disclosed that Warner’s son, Daryll Warner, was also indicted in connection with the case, but was believed to be cooperating with the authorities.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s prosecutor said it has opened an investigate on into its own FIFA official, Eduardo Li, joining the massive international corruption probe launched by the U.S.
It said the attorney’s office has given the go ahead for the probe, because Li, Head of Costa Rica’s national football federation, was arrested with six other football officials on Wednesday in Switzerland.
