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GENEVA. — The European Parliament yesterday urged Sepp Blatter to step down immediately as FIFA president and allow for an interim leader to launch reforms in global football’s governing body.

In a show of hands, members of parliament overwhelmingly voted for the resolution during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France.

The resolution is not legally binding, but amounts to political pressure.

This also came after FIFA director of communications and public affairs Walter De Gregorio resigned from his position with immediate effect yesterday, the world governing body confirmed in a statement.

Nicolas Maingot, his deputy, has been named as an interim replacement for De Gregorio.

De Gregorio, who FIFA said will continue to serve “on a consultancy basis” until the end of the year, had been in the position since 2011 and was present when president Sepp Blatter announced his resignation on June 2.

“Walter has worked incredibly hard for the past four years and we are immensely grateful for all he has done. I am glad we will be able to continue to draw on his expertise until the end of the year,” FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said in the statement. — AFP.