'Hatred' ruined Blatter's reputation, says daughter

FIFA president Sepp Blatter's daughter has said that hatred within the media has ruined her father's reputation, and added that she doesn't understand why the former has been targeting her father.

Reacting to the criminal charges filed against Blatter, Corinne said she was shocked to hear about them in the first place, and insisted that her father was not a criminal, Sport24 reported.

Corrine further expressed fear about her father being jailed for crimes he did not commit.

Her comments came as Swiss prosecutors have reportedly opened criminal proceedings against Blatter in connection with an ongoing corruption scandal that has plunged the world football's governing body into an unprecedented crisis.

US-based sponsors such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Visa and Budweiser have also called on the 79-year-old FIFA head to step down.

But, Blatter's New York attorney, Richard Cullen, has said his client will not resign, as he believes firmly that his leaving office now would neither be in the best interest of FIFA, nor would it advance the process of reform.

Blatter, who was re-elected for a fifth term in May, has insisted that he will remain in the post until the election of his successor in February next year.

FIFA's reputation has been severely tarnished after 14 sports marketing executives and football officials, including several from Zurich-based FIFA, were indicted by the United States in late May over corruption charges.