Sepp Blatter's shock resignation as FIFA president has failed to quell the corruption storm surrounding football's world body that now threatens to touch him.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into Blatter's role in tens of millions of dollars of bribes given to football officials.

Interpol, meanwhile, put six other suspects, including two former FIFA executive members, on its most wanted list.

Critics of the 79-year-old Swiss official rejoiced at his announcement on Tuesday that he would stand down as soon as an election can be held to find a successor.

His decision sparked a global race to take over as head of the world's richest and most powerful sporting federation.

South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-Joon, Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who was beaten by Blatter in a vote last Friday, and Brazilian football legend Zico all said they could take part. Most eyes remain on Michel Platini, the UEFA president who has not given a hint of his plans.

Blatter, who has ruled FIFA for 17 years, won a fifth term in Friday's election, but renewed criticism of his reign and new corruption revelations about FIFA forced him into a corner.

"While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football — the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football," he told reporters.

Blatter vowed that in his remaining months in office he would "focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts."

US authorities have charged 14 football officials and sports company executives over more than US$150 million in bribes. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch yesterday refused to comment on reports that Blatter is also a FBI target.

The New York Times, which broke news of seven arrests before last week's FIFA congress, quoted law enforcement officials and other sources to back their report that the FIFA chief is now in line.

ABC News said Blatter was part of the larger probe that led to the arrests at a luxury Swiss hotel last Wednesday.

"Now that people are going to want to save themselves, there's probably a race to see who will flip on (Blatter) first," one source told ABC News.

Acting on a US request, Interpol yesterday put disgraced FIFA former executive members Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz on their most wanted list and issued an international alert.

Four heads of sports marketing companies have also been put on the list. All six are among the 14 wanted by US authorities.

Warner, a former FIFA vice president, is in Trinidad and Tobago. Leoz, an executive member, is reportedly under house arrest in his native Paraguay.

In parallel to the US inquiry, Swiss prosecutors are looking into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. Both countries said they are carrying on with their preparations.

UEFA's Platini, a former ally who last week told Blatter to his face that he should leave, said: "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision."

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