The corruption charges engulfing soccer’s governing body have heaped shame and humiliation on the game, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said yesterday, although he flatly rejected calls to resign over the scandal.

Football appears to be at a crossroads today as Sepp Blatter remains defiant in the face of a threatened revolution from Uefa as the shockwaves from Fifa’s “seismic” corruption scandal continued to rock the global game.

FIFA was plunged into crisis on Wednesday morning after Swiss authorities made early-morning arrests of six football officials and opened separate criminal proceedings over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FAI boss John Delaney has called on Sepp Blatter to step aside and confirmed that the controversial 79-year-old head of Fifa will not be receiving the Irish vote in Friday’s presidential election in Zurich.

The battle for the FIFA presidency will be a two-horse race after Luis Figo joined Michael van Praag in withdrawing his candidacy today.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has confirmed he will continue his bid to become the next FIFA president.

Sepp Blatter has rejected an invitation to take part in a live television debate involving all four candidates for the FIFA presidency.

Sepp Blatter has rejected an invitation to take part in a live television debate involving all four candidates for the Fifa presidency.

Luis Figo has pledged to restore Fifa’s reputation if he is elected president in May by rebuilding the governing body’s credibility.

David Beckham has backed former team-mate Luis Figo’s bid to become the next FIFA president.

The split between Uefa and Fifa president Sepp Blatter has widened after reports the world governing body watered down a report into reform proposals.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has called on Sepp Blatter to participate in publicised debates in the lead up to FIFA’s presidential elections in May.

David Ginola has withdrawn from the FIFA presidential race after failing to gain the minimum five nominations.

“I care about football so what I’m seeing regarding the image of FIFA – not only now but in the past years – I don’t like it."

Dutch FA president Michael van Praag has announced he will stand as a candidate for the FIFA presidency.

Mario Balotelli’s agent has announced he could run for the FIFA presidency.

Three major FIFA sponsors have ended their relationships with world football's governing body, it has emerged.

David Ginola is to announce on Friday that he wants to stand against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

FIFA presidential hopeful Jerome Champagne has admitted he is not sure he will be able to get the five nominations required to be able to stand against Sepp Blatter.

Sepp Blatter’s challenger for the FIFA presidency Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has been hailed as a “credible” candidate to run for the position.