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Blatter back at work after resignation drama

Zurich - Sepp Blatter returned to his office on Wednesday and FIFA's headquarters tried to put on an air of routine after the drama of the resignation of the longtime world football boss.

"Everything continues as before. The president is still president, until the election of his successor," said a FIFA spokesperson at the Zurich headquarters where dozens of television cameras waited at the entrance.

But the spokeswoman said that "no media activities" were expected the day after Blatter stunned the world with his resignation declaration.

Blatter has said he will keeping working until an election is held and that is not expected until December at the earliest.

The 79-year-old Swiss official announced his resignation at the headquarters. The press conference was arranged with such speed that barely a dozen journalists turned up.

Staff entering the ultra modern marble and glass complex, which includes a meditation room as well as gyms and football pitches, refused to discuss the turbulent events.

"It's tough," said one of the Zurich employees who spoke on condition of anonymity. FIFA now has 1 400 staff around the world.

Some carried local newspapers such as 20 Minutes, whose front page headline said "Blatter abandons."

An AFP reporter was allowed in to the grounds at 08:00. Children from a local French school were preparing for a match in the FIFA pitch and nothing indicated a multi-billion dollar organisation in the midst of a corruption crisis.

"It's just a coincidence that we are here today," said one teacher.

At 09:20, a security official asked a reporter to leave, giving an indication that maybe events are not so routine. "It is a special day," the official said to justify the order to leave FIFA's calm complex.

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