By Kenneth Atisele
The crisis rocking FIFA has consumed its latest victim – as the chief spokesman for world soccer governing body stepped down yesterday, Thursday, June 12, 2015 amid rumours he was forced out for joking about the possible arrest of outgoing president, Sepp Blatter.
The spokesman, Walter De Gregorio, ‘has decided to relinquish his office with immediate effect,’ a statement released by the organisation on Thursday says.
A NY Times report says: ‘Mr. Blatter was not mentioned in the brief press release, but it did include words of praise for the communications director from FIFA’s secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, who also featured in the joke Mr. De Gregorio told during an appearance Monday night on the Swiss channel, SRF.
When asked if he had a favorite joke about his organisation, De Gregorio said: ‘FIFA President Sepp Blatter, his director of communications and the general secretary are sitting in a car – who is driving?’
Stumped, the talk show host, Roger Schawinski asked, ‘And the answer is?’
‘The police,’ De Gregorio replied.
