Zurich (Reuters): FIFA’s director of communications Walter de Gregorio is to resign after making a joke on television about the scandal-hit soccer body, while pressure mounted for his boss Sepp Blatter to step aside at once.

The European Parliament said Blatter’s failure to depart immediately would block efforts to rid FIFA of rampant corruption.

The FIFA president announced his resignation last week as U.S. and Swiss authorities widened their investigations into bribery and corruption at the sport’s global governing body, but he is still at his desk.

EU lawmakers heaped pressure on Blatter, voting in favour of an eight-page resolution with a series of demands to clean up soccer.

The resolution said the parliament welcomed his decision to resign, but expressed “serious concern” that he might stay on for a further nine months before a new leader is appointed.

While the resolution is non-binding, the parliament acts as an echo chamber for public and government opinion in Europe.

The soap opera at FIFA took another turn when it announced that De Gregorio was leaving two days after making a joke at FIFA’s expense on a Swiss chat show.

The Swiss-Italian, who had taken up his role September 2011, had become a prominent figure within FIFA as a mouthpiece for the organisation, appearing in public debates and on television. He had fronted up to the media storm two weeks ago in the immediate aftermath of a dawn raid on the luxury hotel when seven soccer officials, wanted by United States prosecutors on corruption charges, were arrested by Swiss police.

He also introduced the news conference where Blatter announced his resignation and appeared close to tears as the departing president announced his exit.

De Gregorio’s departure follows an appearance on Swiss TV when, at the end of the programme, he was asked to tell his favourite joke.

He replied: “The FIFA president, secretary general and media director are sitting in a car. Who’s driving. Answer? The police.”

A FIFA statement gave no reason for De Gregorio leaving what had become an increasingly thankless job of defending FIFA during the scandal.

“Walter has worked incredibly hard for the past four years and we are immensely grateful for all he has done,” said FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke.

The race to succeed Blatter gathered a new challenger on Wednesday when soccer great Zico formally declared his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, but the Brazilian admitted his chances of success were limited.

Under FIFA rules he needs the backing of five countries affiliated to world soccer’s governing body, which he does not yet have, while he said UEFA boss Michel Platini had advised him to run for head of the Brazilian Football Confederation instead.

The rules governing how the FIFA president is elected have come under the spotlight since the corruption scandal erupted, but any plans to alter the voting system are likely to meet stiff opposition.

The head of Pakistani soccer voiced his concerns on Thursday with German proposals to change the one member one vote system and hand a greater influence to more established soccer powerhouses. The current system has been widely credited with providing Blatter with his power base as he ruled FIFA for 17 years, aided by votes from less prominent soccer nations that received development funds aimed at promoting the sport.

“If tomorrow one member association is going to be more equal than the other, then of course that is going to raise serious issues, and that would not be good for world football and that would not be good for FIFA,” Faisal Saleh Hayat told Reuters.

“First and foremost is the basic principal of equality.”

Zico launches FIFA presidency bid without federation backing

Former Brazil soccer player Zico arrives for a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 10, 2015. Zico has expressed a desire to run for president of FIFA following Sepp Blatter’s shock resignation on Tuesday. REUTERS

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian soccer great Zico formally declared his candidacy for the FIFA presidency on Wednesday but admitted there would probably need to be a change of rules in order to make his run viable.

FIFA president SeppBlatter announced last week he was standing down after the body was hit by a wave of corruption allegations that are still sending shockwaves around the footballing world.

Under FIFA’s current statutes, however, candidates to succeed the Swiss in a ballot likely to take place later this year must have the support of federations from five countries affiliated to soccer’s world governing body. Zico said he does not yet have that backing.

The 62-year-old said UEFA boss Michel Platini had advised him to run for head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) first but Zico said that was almost impossible as he did not have the required support of the eight state federations and five clubs.

“There’s more chance of FIFA than the CBF,” Zico told reporters in Rio de Janeiro.

“The ideal thing would be here in Brazil but unfortunately the rules of the game do not favour outsiders.”

Zico, one of the best players to have graced the game, has managed in Brazil, Japan, Turkey, Russia and Greece and was a former Sports Minister in his homeland.