The 79-year-old Blatter, just four days after being re-elected to a fifth term as FIFA president, announced on Tuesday that he would step down, in the wake of a corruption investigation that has rocked the organization.
"We are surprised by the decision of FIFA president Joseph Blatter to lay down his mandate," the PFF said in a statement. "We believe he made a courageous decision in the greater interest of the sport of football."
"We thank him for his spirited efforts for meaningful football development programs in all FIFA member associations," the PFF added.
Blatter visited the Philippines in November 30, 2014, and spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony of the FIFA Goal Project III at the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite.
The PFF said it now joins "all football stakeholders in moving forward."
"The situation offers a big opportunity to continue and intensify the reforms that have been started. Indeed, deliberate focus on more governance reform and transparency is now called for," it added.
Blatter, who has been FIFA president since 1998, is also being investigated by U.S. prosecutors and the FBI, but has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
His decision to step down was welcomed by the English FA and New Zealand FA, among other FIFA Member Associations.
"This has lifted a cloud and taken away a lot of the concerns of stakeholders and their association with the sport," New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin told Reuters. "We now want a strong, collaborative leader who can bring the football world together and can bring out the change that the game has been crying out for."
The Asian Football Confederation, a staunch ally of Blatter, said on Wednesday that it was monitoring the situation and would discuss internally the "best way forward for both FIFA and world football." -- With Reuters
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
