Blatter rethinking decision to resign?

The head of FIFA's audit and compliance unit said on Sunday that changes at the top of world soccer's governing body were "indispensable" following reports Sepp Blatter might renege on his decision to resign.

"For me, the reforms are the central topic," said Domenico Scala. "That is why I think it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of president's change as it has been announced."

Scala's statement came after Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag cited an anonymous source close to Blatter as saying he had not ruled out the prospect of going back on his decision to resign after receiving messages of support from Asian and African federations.

When contacted by AFP, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stuck to its official positions, that Blatter had announced his resignation on June 2 and that the CAF had taken due note.

On Thursday, the European Parliament called on Blatter to step down immediately and allow for an interim leader to launch reforms in the organization.

But FIFA has repeated the 79-year-old Swiss will continue in office until a successor is designated, probably by the end of the year.

An extraordinary meeting of the FIFA executive committee will take place in Zurich on July 20, when a date will be fixed for the congress at which Blatter's successor will be elected.

It is likely to take place between December this year and March 2016, according to the audit unit that supervises the electoral procedure.

Blatter was re-elected late last month in Zurich for a fifth term as president, only three days after 14 FIFA officials and partners were charged as part of a corruption investigation led by US authorities.

But four days later he announced his resignation.

According to Swiss media, Blatter has been in a relaxed mood despite the scandal which has engulfed the organization he has headed since 1998.

One report claimed he is even pondering hiring top lawyer Lorenz Erni, who was the man who helped film director Roman Polanski avoid extradition to the US in 2010.

In another twist late on Sunday, the BBC quoted a "source close to Blatter" as saying the Swiss could make a bid to stay on if no suitable alternative candidate emerges.

"Everything is open," said the source, adding Blatter will hold meetings over the coming days to gauge whether or not he still retains enough support.