Larry Mussenden, the Bermuda Football Association president, has expressed his surprise at Sepp Blatter’s resignation as Fifa president amid a widening corruption scandal.

Blatter, who was re-elected to a fifth term at the Fifa congress in Zurich last Friday, has promised to call for fresh elections to choose a successor.

Mussenden, who performed the role as chairman of the Fifa ad-hoc electoral committee in Zurich, praised Blatter for the “good work” he performed during his time in office.

“It was a surprise to me because during the presidential campaign, Blatter was clear that he was going to be running, wanted to serve another term, and had a mandate,” Mussenden said.

“During the last week in Zurich, I was of the view he was going to continue. We recognise that Fifa are facing a number of serious challenges in relation to the revelations over the last week.

[Blatter] said that he has always has worked hard for football and that he always had football’s best interests at heart.”

Fifa became embroiled in fresh controversy last week when seven top officials were arrested on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

The arrests — a result of a United States prosecution — took place in Zurich two days before the election.

Swiss authorities have also launched a separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated.

Mussenden, who is also the chairman of the Fifa appeals committee, said he recognised that Blatter had stepped down during one the darkest period’s in Fifa’s history.

“The BFA looks forward to good governance at all levels, whether that’s Fifa, Concacaf or the Caribbean Football Union,” Mussenden added.

“We stand on that principle of good governance and we want to commend president Blatter for all of the good work he did during his time as president.

“He has stated that he wants to work on some reform measures and we trust that he will have the support of the Fifa executive to put in those measures along with Domenico Scala [the chairman of the audit and compliance committee].”

Scala, who is from Switzerland, confirmed yesterday that a four-month notice period was required for presidential elections to be held, adding they could take place between December and March.

Blatter, 79, will continue his duties in the meantime, but will focus on a programme of reform that he said would be driven by Scala.

Mussenden added: “I know Mr Scala personally having served with him on the electoral committee for a few months until he had to step down because there was Swiss candidate [Blatter].

“I know Domenico is a serious person and will assist fully in bringing in any reforms. We look forward to Fifa and Concacaf being on a very positive path for the development of football.”

Mussenden declined to comment on whether the BFA had voted for Blatter in the election.

Blatter, who has been in office for 17 years, admitted yesterday at a hastily arranged news conference in Zurich that his mandate was not supported by everyone in the world of football.

Three days earlier, Blatter was defiant and feisty in the same room when fending off questions about Fifa’s battered reputation and the chance US federal agencies could seek his arrest.

Blatter’s decision to stand down comes just days after he defeated sole challenger Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan 133-73 in the election.

Michel Platini, the president of European body Uefa, had called for Blatter’s resignation before the vote. Yesterday, he praised Blatter’s decision to go.

“It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision,” Platini, Blatter’s one-time protégé, said.

Platini opted out of taking on Blatter in last week’s election, but is a likely candidate for the next vote.

Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein declined to say if he would run again.