Michel Platini, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Luis Figo and more welcome Sepp Blatter resignation

The resignation came only four days after Blatter, 79, won a fifth term as FIFA president when Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein pulled out of the running in the second round of voting in Zurich.

Platini, now one of the possible contenders for the position, said "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision".

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, beaten by Blatter in the first round of last week's presidential election by 133 votes to 73, hinted he may stand again.

He told CNN: "I think this is the right move from Sepp Blatter and I think we have to look to the future.

"I am always there to serve football and I think that's the most important thing and to do so much work to fix this organisation in a proper way.

"I am at the disposal of our national associations. I don't want to be somebody who kicks somebody in the knees. At the end of the day I will do my part to help the national associations."

English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke, speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, was optimistic for change following the Swiss' exit and suggested evidence must have came to light against the departing president to force such a move. He said: "It is a good afternoon! I think it's brilliant for world football. This is the start of something new.

"When I left [the election results announcement] on Friday I said 'this is not over' - but even I couldn't have thought it'd be over so soon.

"Why didn't he step down last week? Clearly there's a smoking gun of some sort. He's not been honourable in years. Now he's gone - let's celebrate.

"FIFA needs a root and branch examination, we need to know where the money is being spent. It's been a corrupt organisation for something like 30 years and at long last we've got a chance to change it.

"What matters is can we reform FIFA?"

On the organisation's next leader, Dyke continued: "They must have an impeccable character and be able to run an organisation where corruption has been rife for years...a lot of people could do the job."

FIFPro, the world players' union, called for professional footballers to have a significant say in the future of FIFA and the sport as a whole.

It said in a statement: "FIFPro welcomes the decision of FIFA president Sepp Blatter to resign as this creates an overdue and unique opportunity to fundamentally reform the governance of football.

"The world's professional footballers, through FIFPro, have a pivotal role to play in the structural overhaul of football. We are deeply committed to achieving this critical outcome in conjunction with all of the game's key stakeholders.

"FIFPro insists that only flawless governance will be acceptable to protect the wellbeing of the players and the integrity of the game. The reform effort will fail without the direct involvement of the players.

"The world's professional footballers, through FIFPro, have a pivotal role to play in the structural overhaul of football. We are deeply committed to achieving this critical outcome in conjunction with all of the game's key stakeholders.

"FIFPro insists that only flawless governance will be acceptable to protect the wellbeing of the players and the integrity of the game. The reform effort will fail without the direct involvement of the players."

Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, who had said last week he intended to resign from the FIFA executive committee if Blatter remained, has indicated he will now reconsider after the departure.

"Naturally, I fully welcome today's news as a major step forward for FIFA on the road to proper reform," he said in a statement released by the FA.

"As I announced following the election at FIFA congress, I simply could not countenance serving on the FIFA executive committee alongside Mr Blatter. I respect his decision but am pleased he is standing aside and by the clear determination for real change within FIFA. This in turn allows me to reconsider my position.

"Having yet to confirm formally my resignation, I am more than willing to play my part in helping to bring about a positive future for FIFA and to work with the many people within the organisation who are only committed to developing and promoting the game around the world.

"I will speak to my UEFA colleagues as soon as possible about the next steps and make no further comment until then."

Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney joined his English and Scottish counterparts in welcoming Blatter's exit.

"This is good news for world football and not before time," he said. "These are changes that we had called for and had hoped would come. We believe there is now an opportunity for real change and reform at FIFA.

"It is important that this opportunity to change the culture within FIFA at the highest levels is not passed up."

Former Newcastle and Tottenham player David Ginola, who was briefly a candidate against Blatter for the presidency before aborting his campaign, said he would stand again and that it was time to "reboot" FIFA.

"This man was probably and surely under a lot of pressure and he resigned from the game and now it's time to reboot FIFA and reboot the game of football and that's the most important," Ginola told Sky News.

Luis Figo was another man who challenged Blatter in the latest election - before withdrawing in the week before the vote.

He used Facebook to react to Blatter's announcement.

"A good day for FIFA and for football," he said. "Change is finally coming. I said on Friday that the day would come sooner or later. Here it is! Now we should, responsibly and calmly, find a consensual solution worldwide in order to start new era of dynamism, transparency and democracy in FIFA."