Sepp Blatter, free of FIFA ‘burden,’ backs Infantino: he ‘will do the right job’

Sepp Blatter says it's a relief no longer being FIFA president, and he thinks his successor Gianni Infantino "will do the right job."

The controversial Blatter tells Associated Press a weight was lifted off him at one minute past six on Friday evening when he watched on television as Infantino won the election to replace him.

He says in an interview on Saturday that "I had this burden on me. And now it is finished."

Blatter, who turns 80 next month, was enjoying his first day out of FIFA's employment since 1975.

He says "it was important for FIFA to have a change."

The 45-year-old Infantino and Blatter were born in neighbouring villages in Switzerland Blatter praised Infantino as "a young man, he is powerful, he has a lot of energy."