UNDER pressure FIFA leader Sepp Blatter yesterday gave up his International Olympic Committee (IOC) seat because he will soon end his reign in charge of world soccer.

    Blatter, whose organization is embroiled in a corruption scandal, was among a group of eight IOC members who should have sought re-election yesterday at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

    He has said he will stand down as FIFA president Feb. 26 when an election for a new leader will be held.

    IOC president Thomas Bach said that Blatter “does not deem it to be appropriate to stand for re-election for eight years knowing that after seven months his term would come to an end.”

    Bach thanked Blatter and other members leaving the IOC for their “great contribution” to the Olympic movement.

    The FIFA president was part of an IOC commission that decided on reforms of the Olympic organization after it was hit by a bribery scandal over the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002.

    (SD-Agencies)