FIFA election chief reminds Blatter of need to step down

Scala set out the election process at FIFA headquarters on June 2 directly after Blatter's sudden resignation statement and said that significant work was required to "regain the trust of the public," including imposing term limits for the president.

Blatter has been portraying himself as leading that reform process, via his Twitter account and in FIFA's internal media outlets.

And Blatter used his column in the in-house weekly magazine to praise FIFA's handling of the worst crisis in the organization's 111 years - despite his leading adviser, communications director Walter De Gregorio, abruptly leaving on Thursday.

"The fact that our organization continues to function smoothly and provides football with a firm foundation at this time of crisis makes me all the prouder," Blatter wrote on Friday.

Asked on Sunday if Blatter was categorically ruling out standing in the new election, FIFA said: "We refer you to the remarks from FIFA President Blatter from 2 June. FIFA has no further comment."