FIFA president Sepp Blatter (R) hands over a copy of the World Cup to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani after the announcement that Qatar is going to be host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2022, in Zurich December 2, 2010. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann (SWITZERLAND - Tags: SPORT SOCCER) - RTXVBFL
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel, who celebrated Germany's fourth World Cup win with the players in Brazil last year, welcomed the departure of FIFA President Sepp Blatter as an opportunity to boost standards within football's world governing body.
Her sport minister Thomas de Maiziere went further, saying Blatter's resignation under pressure will be worthless if FIFA fails to enact meaningful reforms and put an end to the cronyism that has tarnished the game.
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