FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford has welcomed Sepp Blatter’s resignation as Fifa president, but admits he still believes the issue should have been settled a long time ago.

Blatter called for an extraordinary Fifa congress to elect a new president “as soon as possible,” after standing down just days after his re-election, which came amid a frantic few days when seven top Fifa officials were arrested amid claims of widespread corruption.

"He's been a fantastic leader, but arguably one that probably stayed on a little too long," said Ford.

"We do welcome the news and think that, with somebody new at the helm, we will hopefully get into a new era and take Fifa and football even further forward.

"I'm shocked at the decision but you have to give credit where its due.

"For 30 years Sepp Blatter has taken football to the top of the tree in terms of maximising revenue and has made us the number one sport in the world.

"Other sports have tried to compete but he's taken us leaps ahead. He was chief executive for many years before becoming president and he has held down top positions in the game for nigh on 40 years but what I would say is he has held on a little bit too long.

"It would've been better if he'd gone before the vote.

"We voted for Prince Ali and we feel it's good that a new man will be at the helm from here on in.

"What I would ask is that we do get a new president in immediately, rather than have an interim for 12 months.

"I’ve got to know Blatter well from International Football Association Board meetings and he was an incredibly dedicated individual quick witted and a brilliant oarator.

"He came to Wales for the 125th anniversary of the FAW and he charmed everybody in the room, including politicians and heads of state."

Blatter was re-elected president of Fifa for a fifth term on Friday, beating Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.

Speaking at the announcement of his resignation, Blatter said: "My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody.

"The next ordinary Fifa congress will take place on 13 May, 2016 in Mexico City.

"This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity."

The extraordinary congress is expected to take place between December 2015 and March 2016.

Fifa was hit last week by the arrests on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people while a separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.

Despite the controversy of Blatter's reign, Ford believes the Swiss deserves some praise for his 17 years in charge of Fifa.

"We are as amazed as anyone else is [by Blatter's resignation]. Let's place credit where credit is due," said Ford.

"He's been at the helm and taken world football to be what it is today."