Blatter Given A 10-Min Ovation By FIFA Staff

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been given a 10-minute standing ovation by some 400 staff as he returned to its Zurich headquarters a day after announcing he was to step down.

Reportedly close to tears, he urged his "fantastic team" to "stay strong".

Mr Blatter stood down just days after he was re-elected, amid a corruption scandal engulfing world football.

South Africa has meanwhile denied paying a $10m bribe to secure the hosting of the 2010 World Cup.

Mr Blatter reportedly addressed staff in the same hall in which he announced he was resigning a day earlier.

He emphasised the reform work that Fifa now needed to undertake.

Director of communications Walter de Gregorio told the BBC that reform of Fifa's executive committee was key and that members should undergo integrity checks.