FIFA director resigns
June 11, 2015
FIFA's director of communications, Walter de Gregorio, is to resign from office with immediate effect, world football's governing body said in a statement on Thursday.
FIFA said de Gregorio "has decided to relinquish his office with immediate effect, but will stay on as consultant until the end of the year." De Gregorio joined FIFA in September 2011. His deputy, Nicolas Maingot, will assume the role as interim.
"I am glad we will be able to continue to draw on his expertise until the end of the year," FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke said on Thursday. "Walter has worked incredibly hard for the past four years and we are immensely grateful for all he has done."
The Swiss former journalist joined FIFA in 2011 after working on Blatter's campaign team during that year's presidential election. De Gregorio was also visibly upset as he introduced the news conference in which Sepp Blatter announced his resignation from presidency.
The world governing body is currently the subject of separate investigations by United States and Swiss authorities into allegations of corruption and the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. The election to replace President Sepp Blatter, who announced his resignation in May, is expected between December and March.
apc/msh (AFP, Reuters)