MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIFA communications director ousted; former Brazilian star wants Blatter's job

“Walter has worked incredibly hard for the past four years and we are immensely grateful for all he has done,” Jérôme Valcke said in a statement.

The director of communications & public affairs at FIFA has stepped down with immediate effect. FIFA announced on June 11, via release, that Walter de Gregorio would be stepping down and serving on a “consultancy basis” through the calendar year. De Gregorio joined FIFA in September 2011.

 Deputy director Nicolas Maingot will assume de Gregorio’s role immediately on an interim basis.

“Walter has worked incredibly hard for the past four years and we are immensely grateful for all he has done,” Jérôme Valcke, FIFA secretary general, said in a statement.

“I am glad we will be able to continue to draw on his expertise until the end of the year.”

There is speculation that De Gregorio was fired for a joke he made while appearing on Swiss television recently. De Gregorio’s actions come nine days after Sepp Blatter announced a FIFA extraordinary congress to elect a new president of the organization in the six to ten months.

In related news Brazilian footballer Zico believes it is his “duty” to stand for the FIFA presidency.

“It's sad for our sport to see what is happening in football today, the corruption... and the hard work of many other good people wasted,” Zico told reporters at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro.

“I see it as my duty to use my experience and knowledge to try and stand for the presidency”.

Zico’s professional playing career spanned 23 years, the majority which was spent at his hometown club Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

During a brief hiatus in playing, Zico held the position of Minister of Sport under President Fernando Collor de Mello. He also was capped 71 times for the national team.

After finishing his playing career, he has managed teams around the globe for the past 15 years.