FORMER Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has said FIFA needs to "sort itself out" following president Sepp Blatter's resignation.

Mr Sutcliffe, who was in the role between 2007 and 2010, said the world football organisation needed to re-group and Mr Blatter's resignation yesterday was long overdue.

The retired MP met Mr Blatter at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich in 2009, as part of England's unsuccessful World Cup 2018 bid.

Mr Sutcliffe met the outgoing president as part of an FA delegation which asked if the bidding process was transparent, but did not receive assurances it was.

The former Bradford South MP, who stood down last month, said the controversial World Cup planned for Qatar in 2022 should still go ahead.

He added: "Football needs to put its house in order and I hope it can. I think it's good news that he has resigned, it's long overdue. It was impossible for him to continue in that position after what had taken place so far.

"It's an opportunity for FIFA to sort itself out. They need to take a bit of time now.

"FIFA now needs transparency and to learn from the International Olympic Committee.

"It's unlikely that the Qatar World Cup will be moved now. I'm not so sure it should happen after so many people have lost their lives while the stadiums have been built.

"It should only happen if there has been clear wrongdoing by Qatar officials."