Reforming Fifa will be an even more messy job than exposing it

There he was, doing his lovable leader act: the little father of all the world, humble and slightly dishevelled. The great suit was back before the world: but this time the clothes have no emperor. It was time for farewell.

Sepp Blatter has resigned as president of Fifa. He was able to keep on for 17 years on a mixture of dazzling effrontery and the fact that so many people in Fifa were actually in favour of a corrupt system. It’s so much easier to deal with people when you can price their degree of self-interest with complete precision.

Many, many people had been happy with the corrupt system of running world football: but drew the line when everyone could plainly see that it was stinking. I remember seeing a hippo carcass two days old, its surface visibly moving with maggots and its scent discernible from long range. That’s Fifa.