The FAI say that they welcome today's news that Sepp Blatter is resigning as FIFA President.

Just four days after winning a fifth term in office, the 79-year-old says that he will step down from the job as soon as the world governing body can elect a successor.

Blatter has called for an emergency congress so that a new president can be appointed as quickly as possible, with elections likely to take place between December and March.

FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney says that he believes that "there is now an opportunity for real change and reform" within the world governing body.

"This is good news for world football and not before time. 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," he said in a statement.

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