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Sepp Blatter

Joseph "Sepp" Blatter (born 10 March 1936) is a Swiss sports executive who served as the eighth president of FIFA, the global governing body for association football, from 8 June 1998 until his resignation on 21 December 2015.^[1]^[2] Blatter's tenure saw FIFA's membership expand to 211 associations and revenues surge from around $2.7 billion in 1998 to over $5.8 billion by 2014, fueled by broadcasting deals and commercialization of the sport.^[3] He prioritized development in emerging markets, launching the GOAL programme in 1999 to fund infrastructure in smaller nations, which disbursed hundreds of millions in grants and helped stage World Cups in Asia (2002) and Africa (2010) for the first time.^[3]^[4] These initiatives, while credited with globalizing football, drew criticism for concentrating influence among voting confederations in the developing world, enabling Blatter's repeated re-elections despite internal dissent.^[3] His leadership ended amid a sweeping corruption probe triggered by U.S. and Swiss authorities in 2015, which exposed bribery and racketeering among FIFA officials tied to media and hosting rights.^[5] Blatter resigned four days after securing a fifth term, denying personal involvement but acknowledging FIFA's reputational damage; he was subsequently banned for eight years (later reduced) by FIFA's ethics committee for authorizing an irregular $2 million payment to UEFA president Michel Platini, though a Swiss criminal court acquitted both men of fraud in that case in 2022 and on appeal in 2025.^[6]^[5]^[7] A separate 2021 FIFA ban of six years followed findings of mismanagement in a migrant worker compensation fund for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of governance under his era.^[8]

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Upbringing

Josef "Sepp" Blatter was born on March 10, 1936, in Visp, a remote alpine town in the Swiss canton of Valais near the Matterhorn, into a modest working-class family.^[9]^[6]^[10] His family's roots traced back to Ulrichen, a village in Upper Valais, where Blatter later maintained ties by hosting annual events.^[11] Blatter grew up with siblings including brothers Peter and Marco, as well as a sister named Ruth who predeceased him; the household was supported by his father's employment at a local chemical factory.^[12]^[13] His early years in Visp were unremarkable, shaped by the town's industrial and mountainous setting, with local accounts portraying him as dominant in playground activities during primary school.^[6] This modest upbringing contrasted with his later prominence in international sports administration.^[10]

Academic and Early Professional Experience

Joseph Blatter, known as Sepp, completed his secondary education at the colleges of Sion and St. Maurice in Switzerland.^[14] He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Economics degree from the University of Lausanne, graduating with a focus on economics in 1958.^[15] ^[14] Following graduation, Blatter entered public relations and marketing roles, initially serving as head of public relations for the tourism board of Valais, his home canton.^[16] He later advanced to director of sports timing and public relations at the Swiss watchmaker Longines, where he managed timing operations for international sporting events.^[16] ^[15] In parallel, he held administrative positions in Swiss sports organizations, including service with the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation.^[17] These experiences built his expertise in sports management and commercial aspects of athletics prior to his entry into international football administration.^[16]

Pre-FIFA Career in Sports Administration

Roles in Swiss and International Sports Bodies

Blatter began his involvement in Swiss sports administration in 1964 when he was appointed General Secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, a position he held until 1966.^[1] In this role, he managed operational and administrative aspects of the federation during a period when Swiss ice hockey was establishing its competitive structure post-World War II.^[17] From 1970 to 1975, Blatter served on the board of directors of Neuchâtel Xamax, a Swiss first-division football club based in Neuchâtel.^[18] This involvement provided him early exposure to professional football governance in Switzerland, including strategic decision-making for club operations and league participation amid the growth of domestic competitions.^[18] In parallel with these roles, Blatter worked as Director of Sports Timing and Public Relations for the Swiss watchmaker Longines from around 1968 onward, which extended his reach into international sports events.^[18] Through this position, he contributed to the timing operations and organizational logistics for the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1976 Montreal Olympics, handling synchronization of events and media relations for timekeeping systems.^[18]^[19] These engagements marked his initial foray into coordinating large-scale international sporting spectacles, though primarily through corporate rather than governing body channels.^[20]

Involvement with the International Olympic Committee

Prior to joining FIFA, Blatter served as Director of Sports Timing and Public Relations for Longines S.A., the Swiss watchmaker that acted as the official timekeeper for multiple Olympic Games. In this capacity, he contributed to the technical organization and timing operations for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, where Longines provided chronometric services for track and field events, swimming, and other timed competitions.^[21] His role involved coordinating equipment deployment, data recording, and liaison with Olympic organizers to ensure accurate results dissemination, supporting the International Olympic Committee's standards for precision in athletic performance measurement.^[12] Blatter extended this involvement to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, again managing Longines' timing infrastructure amid logistical challenges such as the Games' budget overruns and boycotts by over 20 nations. This work honed his expertise in international sports event management, facilitating real-time scoring systems that influenced subsequent Olympic technical protocols. Although not holding a formal position within the IOC itself, these contributions through corporate partnership exposed him to the committee's operational framework and global stakeholder coordination, predating his administrative roles in football governance.^[19]^[22]

Entry and Rise in FIFA

Joining FIFA and Administrative Positions

Sepp Blatter joined FIFA in 1975 as its technical director, a position focused on overseeing development programs and technical aspects of the sport.^[23]^[24] In this role, he contributed to initiatives aimed at promoting football globally, drawing on his prior experience in Swiss sports administration.^[25] His appointment came amid FIFA's efforts to expand its international footprint under President João Havelange, who had assumed leadership in 1974.^[22] In 1981, Blatter was promoted to general secretary by the FIFA Executive Committee, succeeding Helmut Käser and becoming the organization's chief administrative officer.^[26]^[24] This position entailed managing daily operations, coordinating with member associations, and implementing policies set by the president, roles he held for 17 years until 1998.^[23] During this period, Blatter worked closely with Havelange, facilitating the growth of FIFA's membership and commercial activities while navigating internal governance structures.^[17] Blatter's administrative tenure positioned him as a key insider, building alliances across confederations and enhancing his influence within FIFA's hierarchical framework.^[27] By the late 1990s, these roles had established him as Havelange's protégé, setting the stage for his presidential candidacy.

1998 FIFA Presidential Election

The 1998 FIFA presidential election occurred on June 8 during the 51st FIFA Congress in Paris, France, to select a successor to João Havelange, who had led the organization since 1974.^[28] Sepp Blatter, FIFA's general secretary since 1981 and a close associate of Havelange, emerged as the establishment candidate, emphasizing continuity in global development programs for football in underrepresented regions.^[29] His main challenger was Lennart Johansson, president of UEFA, who advocated for greater European influence and reforms to FIFA's governance structure.^[30] In the election, which required an absolute majority of votes from FIFA's 191 member associations, Blatter secured 111 votes to Johansson's 80 in the first and only ballot, achieving victory without a runoff.^[28] Blatter's support was strongest among confederations from Africa, Asia, and Oceania, where FIFA's financial assistance programs under Havelange had built loyalty through infrastructure investments and expanded World Cup slots.^[31] Johansson, backed primarily by European federations, conceded immediately after the results, stating "the game is over."^[28] The campaign was marked by tensions, with Johansson criticizing FIFA's opaque finances and Blatter's close ties to Havelange.^[32] Post-election, Johansson alleged irregularities, including claims that envelopes containing cash were distributed to African delegates the night before voting, purportedly to sway support toward Blatter.^[33] Blatter rejected the accusations, attributing his win to genuine backing from developing nations appreciative of FIFA's growth initiatives, though no formal investigation or charges resulted from these claims at the time.^[30] These allegations later resurfaced amid broader FIFA corruption probes, highlighting patterns of vote influence through development aid rather than outright bribery.^[34]

FIFA Presidency: Policies and Achievements

Expansion of Football Development Programs

Under Sepp Blatter's presidency from 1998 to 2015, FIFA markedly increased investments in football development, redirecting substantial revenues toward infrastructure, training, and operational support for its 209 member associations, with a focus on underrepresented regions in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. This shift built on Blatter's earlier role as FIFA's director of development programs starting in 1975, where he negotiated sponsorships like Coca-Cola's for grassroots initiatives, but accelerated post-election through structured funding mechanisms that prioritized smaller nations receiving the highest per capita allocations.^[3]^[35]^[36] The flagship FIFA GOAL Programme, ratified at the 1999 Extraordinary Congress and initiated under Blatter's direct oversight, allocated grants for technical, administrative, and infrastructural enhancements tailored to each association's needs. By 2015, it had funded over 700 projects, primarily association headquarters, training facilities, and pitches, with expenditures reaching approximately US$284 million by 2014 across 206 member organizations.^[37]^[38]^[39] This initiative facilitated tangible expansions, such as new sports complexes in Egypt inaugurated by Blatter in 2009, enabling broader participation in youth and women's programs in developing confederations.^[40] Complementing GOAL, the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) provided annual disbursements—totaling US$209 million in 2014 alone—for day-to-day operations, coaching education, and referee training, ensuring sustained growth beyond capital projects. Overall, FIFA's development outlays under Blatter surpassed US$2 billion from 1999 onward, including US$778 million to associations and US$331 million to confederations by early 2014, fostering increased global match participation and professionalization in non-traditional markets.^[27]^[41]^[42] These efforts correlated with football's infrastructural footprint expanding in regions like Africa, where Blatter's targeted aid built loyalty among voting members by addressing chronic underfunding.^[37]^[3]

Financial Growth and Commercialization

During Sepp Blatter's presidency from 1998 to 2015, FIFA's annual revenue expanded dramatically from approximately $560 million in 1998 to $5.7 billion by 2014, reflecting aggressive commercialization strategies centered on the World Cup and global broadcasting rights.^[43] ^[44] This growth was fueled by escalating media deals, with television rights fees rising due to the sport's increasing appeal in emerging markets and the proliferation of satellite and digital broadcasting platforms. For instance, the 2010-2014 World Cup cycle alone generated $4.8 billion from qualifying rounds and the tournament, underscoring FIFA's shift toward treating major events as high-value media properties.^[45] Blatter's administration prioritized sponsorship revenue through exclusive, multi-year partnerships with global brands, establishing tiered categories that maximized exclusivity and visibility. Key deals with longstanding partners like Adidas (extended through 2038 in later negotiations influenced by Blatter-era foundations) and Coca-Cola provided baseline funding, while new agreements with entities such as Emirates and Sony boosted inflows by tying sponsor branding to tournament broadcasts and stadium advertising.^[46] These efforts professionalized FIFA's marketing, with sponsorships contributing a stable portion of the budget amid volatile TV markets, though critics later noted that such commercialization prioritized revenue over grassroots development. By 2009, overall revenue had reached $1.059 billion, with profits at 18% of that figure, enabling expanded reserves and reinvestments.^[46] The expansion of the World Cup to 32 teams starting in 1998, a policy Blatter championed and implemented during his first term, directly enhanced commercialization by increasing matches from 52 to 64, thereby extending broadcast windows and advertising slots.^[43] This structural change amplified revenue potential, as longer tournaments attracted higher bids from broadcasters seeking comprehensive coverage and sponsors targeting prolonged exposure. FIFA's four-year commercial cycles, aligned with World Cups, saw cumulative revenues climb steadily—reaching around $3.4 billion for 2007-2010—through bundled rights packages that bundled TV, digital, and hospitality elements.^[47] Blatter attributed this trajectory to football's globalization, though internal audits later revealed that unchecked executive bonuses strained the model's sustainability.^[43]

World Cup and Tournament Innovations

During Sepp Blatter's presidency from 1998 to 2015, FIFA launched the Club World Championship, later renamed the FIFA Club World Cup, as a new annual intercontinental club tournament to crown a global champion among continental winners. The inaugural edition occurred in January 2000 in Brazil, featuring seven teams including European, South American, North/Central American, African, Asian, Oceanian, and host representatives, with Corinthians defeating Vasco da Gama 4–3 in the final. Blatter had advocated for the concept since the early 1990s to rival emerging club competitions and promote football's worldwide appeal, though he later described its creation as a "mistake" due to fixture congestion and commercialization pressures on players.^[48]^[49] Blatter oversaw the expansion of the FIFA Women's World Cup from 16 to 24 teams, implemented for the 2015 edition in Canada, to broaden participation and development in women's football. This change, approved by the FIFA Congress, added eight more nations and introduced an additional knockout round, increasing the tournament's competitiveness and global reach, with the United States defeating Japan 5–2 in the final before a record 53,341 spectators. Earlier expansions under his tenure, from 12 teams in 1991 to 16 by 1999–2007, aligned with Blatter's stated goal of growing the women's game, though critics noted uneven infrastructure support in emerging regions.^[50] In response to officiating controversies, such as the disputed non-goal by England's Frank Lampard against Germany in the 2010 World Cup round of 16, Blatter reversed his prior opposition to technological aids and supported the approval of goal-line technology systems. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), influenced by FIFA, greenlit Hawk-Eye and GoalRef in July 2012 after rigorous testing; these were first deployed at the December 2012 Club World Cup in Japan and subsequently at the 2014 men's World Cup in Brazil, where they assisted referees in eight decisions across 64 matches. This marked a causal shift from human judgment alone to empirical verification, reducing errors in goal determinations while preserving the game's flow, as Blatter emphasized post-2010 that evidence from high-profile incidents necessitated adaptation.^[51]^[52] Blatter's era also featured hosting the men's World Cup in unprecedented regions, with the 2002 tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan—the first in Asia—drawing 2.7 million attendees and boosting viewership in populous markets, and the 2010 event in South Africa, Africa's debut, which generated $3.9 billion in revenue despite logistical challenges. These selections aimed to innovate by prioritizing geographic rotation over traditional European dominance, increasing qualification slots for African (to five) and Asian (to four) confederations from prior norms, though they sparked debates on readiness and corruption in bidding.^[53]

FIFA Presidency: Governance and Reforms

Electoral Processes and Term Extensions

The FIFA presidential election process during Sepp Blatter's tenure involved a secret ballot conducted at the FIFA Congress, where each of the 209 member associations held one vote, regardless of national population or federation size.^[54]^[55] To secure victory in the first round, a candidate required a two-thirds majority of valid votes cast; absent that, a runoff occurred between the top two candidates, with a simple majority sufficient for election.^[56]^[57] Terms were set at four years, with no age restrictions or mandatory retirement provisions, and candidates needed endorsements from at least five member associations to qualify.^[54] Blatter's initial election in 1998 followed this framework, defeating UEFA president Lennart Johansson with 111 votes to 80 in a single round at the Paris Congress.^[58] He faced no opponent in 2002, receiving unanimous support from 139 attending delegates amid internal divisions.^[58] In 2007, Blatter prevailed over Qatari challenger Mohammed bin Hammam, securing 139 votes to 56 in Zurich, exceeding the two-thirds threshold.^[58] The 2011 contest saw bin Hammam disqualified by FIFA's ethics committee over bribery allegations in Trinidad and Tobago, leaving Blatter unopposed and elected with 186 votes from 203 present members.^[59] Blatter's 2015 re-election bid for a fifth term proceeded under the same rules despite ongoing U.S. and Swiss investigations into FIFA corruption; he garnered 133 endorsements from 209 members pre-vote and won after Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein conceded following a first-round tally of 133-73, avoiding a runoff.^[60]^[61] The one-association-one-vote system concentrated influence among smaller or developing nations, which Blatter courted through development aid and hosting perks, though critics argued it facilitated patronage over merit-based governance.^[55] No term limits existed during Blatter's presidency, enabling his 17-year incumbency across four full terms and a partial fifth, as FIFA statutes permitted indefinite re-election provided Congress approval.^[62] Blatter publicly affirmed his intent for a fifth term in September 2014, citing unfinished reforms, without proposing restrictions on tenure length.^[63] Post-resignation reforms in 2016, under interim leadership, introduced a maximum of three four-year terms (12 years total) for presidents and council members, retroactively inapplicable to Blatter's era.^[62] This absence of limits during his rule contrasted with calls from figures like Michel Platini for earlier constraints, which Blatter resisted amid accusations of entrenching power through electoral dominance.^[58]

Technological and Rule Changes

Blatter long maintained that technological interventions, such as video replays or goal-line technology (GLT), would undermine football's human element and disrupt its rhythm, emphasizing the sport's universality across professional and amateur levels. He argued that referees' errors were inherent to the game and that technology would lead to excessive interruptions and costs prohibitive for lower tiers.^[64]^[65] High-profile officiating controversies during his presidency shifted this stance. The disallowed "ghost goal" by England's Frank Lampard against Germany in the 2010 World Cup round of 16—where television replays clearly showed the ball crossing the line—drew widespread criticism and prompted Blatter to reconsider GLT. In June 2010, he announced FIFA would revisit the technology after previously rejecting it in 2008 trials.^[66]^[67] FIFA approved GLT in July 2011 at an IFAB meeting, certifying systems like Hawk-Eye and GoalRef following independent tests. The technology, using cameras and sensors to detect ball position, debuted at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, was employed at the 2013 Confederations Cup, and featured at the 2014 World Cup, where it confirmed three goals without halting play. Blatter later endorsed its reliability, stating post-Euro 2012 that it had become "no longer an alternative but a necessity" after another disputed call.^[68]^[69]^[70] On rule adjustments, Blatter's era saw IFAB trials and adoptions influenced by FIFA, including the 2004 abolition of the golden goal extra-time format—replacing it with two full 15-minute periods—for major tournaments to reduce gamesmanship. FIFA also pushed for stricter enforcement of existing laws, such as the six-second limit on goalkeepers holding the ball, amid ongoing debates over time-wasting. In 2014, Blatter advocated limited "video challenges" for coaches to review key decisions, akin to other sports, though this was not formalized before his departure.^[71]

Relations with Confederations and Global Representation

Sepp Blatter maintained power through alliances with leaders of non-European confederations, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL), which provided crucial voting blocs in FIFA presidential elections. In the 1998 election, Blatter secured support from African delegates amid allegations of cash distributions to CAF officials on the eve of voting.^[39] These ties persisted, with CAF pledging unanimous backing in subsequent contests and AFC initially supporting his 1998 and 2002 campaigns before tensions arose with challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam.^[72] By 2015, Blatter had endorsements from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) leaders, ensuring near-automatic votes from their member associations. ^[73] Blatter's relations with these bodies were reinforced by FIFA's allocation of development funds, totaling over $2 billion since 1998, directed toward infrastructure and programs in developing nations, fostering a patron-client dynamic that critics described as vote-buying but which Blatter framed as equitable global investment.^[27] Africa's bond was particularly strong, exemplified by Blatter's delivery of the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, the first hosted on the continent, which solidified loyalty despite uneven on-field benefits from such expenditures.^[37] In contrast, relations with UEFA soured over time, marked by Blatter's recruitment of Michel Platini for European support in 1998 followed by public feuds, including Blatter's 2015 accusations of Platini's envy and role in Qatar's 2022 bid controversy.^[27] ^[74] On global representation, Blatter pursued policies to elevate non-European voices, including the 2000 adoption of a World Cup hosting rotation system to cycle among confederations post-2010, intended to counter European dominance and promote worldwide engagement.^[75] This was reversed in 2007 amid bids for 2018 and 2022, shifting to competitive selection.^[76] He also pushed for expanded qualification slots, advocating in 2013 for additional places for African and Asian teams to reflect football's growth in those regions, building on prior increases like Africa's rise to five slots for the 2010 tournament.^[77] These efforts, while enhancing FIFA's inclusivity claims, were intertwined with electoral strategies, as development aid and representational gestures secured bloc support from the 140-plus associations outside Europe.^[78]

Controversies and Criticisms

In November 2011, Blatter stated that racism was not a significant problem on the football pitch and suggested that players involved in racial disputes should resolve them with a handshake rather than walking off the field, emphasizing personal responsibility over institutional sanctions.^[79]^[80] These remarks drew widespread criticism from players like Rio Ferdinand and organizations such as Kick It Out, who argued they minimized the severity of on-field abuse, prompting Blatter to express regret for causing offense but maintain that dialogue was key to resolution.^[81]^[82] Earlier, in 2013, Blatter outlined FIFA's anti-racism initiatives, including education campaigns and sanctions, during a speech at the Oxford Union, positioning the organization as proactive despite ongoing incidents.^[83] Regarding women's football, Blatter in January 2004 proposed that female players adopt "more feminine" attire, such as tighter shorts, to enhance the sport's appeal and attract larger audiences, commenting that "let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball."^[84]^[85] This suggestion, made during a symposium on growing the women's game, was condemned by figures like Faye Watt of the Scottish Women's Football Association as objectifying athletes and prioritizing aesthetics over merit.^[84] Blatter later described himself as the "godfather" of women's football in FIFA, crediting his leadership for its expansion, including dedicated World Cups since 1991, though critics highlighted persistent gender disparities in funding and visibility.^[86]^[87] On homosexuality, Blatter in December 2010 advised gay fans attending the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—where same-sex relations are illegal—to "refrain from any sexual activities" during their stay, framing it as respect for local laws rather than endorsement of persecution.^[88]^[89] He subsequently apologized for the phrasing causing distress but upheld the guidance, and in June 2013 described Qatar's anti-homosexuality stance as a "moral and ethical" matter without advocating change.^[90]^[91] These comments aligned with FIFA's host selection prioritizing cultural norms over universal rights standards at the time. Blatter initially defended Qatar's 2022 World Cup hosting against human rights critiques, including migrant worker conditions, asserting in various statements that FIFA focused on football's global development over political interference.^[92] By November 2022, however, he conceded the decision was a "mistake" due to extreme summer heat complicating matches—later mitigated by air-conditioned stadiums—without referencing labor abuses or rights violations as factors, noting FIFA had since incorporated social considerations into bidding criteria.^[93]^[94] This retrospective admission contrasted with his earlier dismissal of boycotts or relocations, prioritizing tournament execution.^[95]

World Cup Bidding and Hosting Decisions

Under Sepp Blatter's presidency, FIFA's executive committee awarded the 2010 FIFA World Cup to South Africa on May 15, 2004, marking the first time the tournament was hosted on the African continent, a decision Blatter publicly championed as fulfilling a long-standing continental rotation promise.^[96] Blatter emphasized the developmental benefits for African football infrastructure, though subsequent investigations revealed that South African bid officials facilitated a $10 million payment to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou, ostensibly for development programs but later scrutinized as potential vote influence in the 2010 and 2011 bidding cycles.^[97]^[98] U.S. Department of Justice indictments in 2015 linked this payment to broader bribery schemes involving FIFA officials, though Blatter was not directly charged in relation to the 2010 bid.^[97] The most contentious decisions occurred on December 2, 2010, when FIFA separately awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 edition to Qatar, both under Blatter's oversight of the executive committee vote in Zurich.^[99] Russia's selection overcame bids from England, Spain/Portugal, Netherlands/Belgium, and the U.S., amid allegations of state-backed inducements to voters; Qatar defeated the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and Australia, despite FIFA's own technical evaluation deeming its summer climate unsuitable due to temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F), inadequate stadium infrastructure, and limited fan capacity.^[100]^[101] Blatter later acknowledged in 2014 that staging the tournament in Qatar's summer heat was "a mistake," citing health risks to players and fans, and supported shifting it to November-December 2022, which disrupted global club schedules.^[102]^[103] Corruption probes, including a 2014 FIFA-commissioned report by Michael Garcia and U.S. indictments, uncovered evidence of bribery totaling millions to sway votes for both bids, with unnamed officials admitting to accepting payments from Russian and Qatari interests.^[104]^[100] Blatter dismissed specific bribery claims against the process in 2023, insisting the decisions stood despite irregularities in voter conduct, but in 2022 he personally admitted the Qatar award was "a bad choice" for which he bore responsibility as president, pointing to political pressures including French President Nicolas Sarkozy's influence on UEFA votes.^[105]^[95]^[106] These awards prioritized geopolitical expansion over logistical feasibility, as evidenced by Qatar's subsequent $200 billion infrastructure spend and reports of thousands of migrant worker deaths under harsh conditions, though FIFA maintained the selections were final.^[107]

Allegations of Cronyism and Internal Dissent

During his tenure as FIFA president, Sepp Blatter faced repeated allegations of cronyism, particularly in the distribution of development funds and appointments to secure loyalty from national association leaders, especially in Africa and Asia. Critics, including former FIFA secretary general Michel Zen-Ruffinen, accused Blatter in 2002 of fostering a patronage system that funneled millions to allied confederations while sidelining internal oversight, contributing to estimated financial losses of up to $500 million through mismanagement and favoritism.^[108] ^[22] Zen-Ruffinen's 30-page internal dossier portrayed Blatter's leadership as dictatorial, prioritizing personal alliances over transparent governance, though Blatter dismissed these claims as politically motivated by European rivals.^[109] Blatter's electoral strategies exemplified these charges, as he cultivated support from over 200 national associations by promising financial incentives, such as increased grants to smaller federations, which allegedly bought votes in presidential elections. In the 2011 contest against Mohamed bin Hammam, Blatter's campaign involved direct payments to Caribbean and Asian officials—later ruled as bribes by FIFA's ethics committee—highlighting a pattern of rewarding cronies to maintain power.^[110] This approach exacerbated perceptions of favoritism, with Blatter appointing loyalists like Jérôme Valcke as secretary general despite earlier controversies, prioritizing allegiance over merit.^[20] Internal dissent within FIFA intensified under Blatter, manifesting in high-profile rifts with UEFA and key executives. Zen-Ruffinen's 2002 rebellion, which included threats to release damaging financial audits, forced Blatter to restructure the executive committee to dilute European influence and bolster support from CONCACAF and AFC.^[111] A major fracture emerged with Michel Platini, Blatter's former protégé and UEFA president, whose relationship soured over succession ambitions; a 2011 payment of 2 million Swiss francs from FIFA to Platini—authorized by Blatter without a formal contract—was later deemed a conflict of interest by FIFA's ethics committee, leading to both men's eight-year bans in 2015.^[112] ^[113] Platini's opposition reflected broader European discontent with Blatter's globalist policies, which prioritized emerging markets and allegedly marginalized UEFA's voice in decision-making, such as World Cup allocations. Dissent peaked in 2015 when arrests of FIFA officials exposed vote-buying networks, yet Blatter secured re-election with 133 votes to Prince Ali's 73, underscoring entrenched divisions between his base in developing regions and Western critics who viewed his rule as corrupt and insular.^[111] Despite acquittals in some Swiss fraud cases by 2025, these allegations persisted, with investigations revealing systemic favoritism that undermined FIFA's institutional integrity.^[114]

2015 Scandal and Resignation

Corruption Investigations and Arrests

On May 27, 2015, Swiss federal police arrested seven senior FIFA officials at a Zurich hotel, acting on a U.S. extradition request from the Department of Justice, which charged them with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering tied to a 24-year scheme generating over $150 million in bribes for media rights, marketing deals, and World Cup hosting bids.^[115] The detained executives included FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb, CONCACAF President Jack Warner, and others from confederations like CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, with the U.S. probe originating from a 2010 investigation into Warner's activities.^[116] Concurrently, Swiss authorities launched a parallel criminal probe into FIFA's awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar, respectively, examining potential criminal mismanagement.^[115] Sepp Blatter, FIFA's president at the time, was not arrested or indicted in the initial U.S. action, despite the scandal engulfing the organization he led for 17 years, but he faced immediate scrutiny for presiding over a culture of alleged graft.^[117] U.S. authorities later expanded probes to include Blatter's potential role in a separate bribery scandal involving International Sport and Leisure (ISL), FIFA's former marketing partner, where over $100 million in bribes were paid to officials between 1992 and 2000, with documents implicating Blatter's knowledge or involvement.^[118] The Federal Bureau of Investigation specifically examined Blatter's handling of restitution demands from ISL amid João Havelange's resignation as FIFA president in 2005.^[119] Swiss prosecutors opened a dedicated criminal investigation against Blatter on September 24, 2015, focusing on suspected mismanagement and unauthorized payments, including a 2 million Swiss franc transfer to Michel Platini in 2011 for alleged consulting work from 1998–2002 lacking proper documentation.^[120] Blatter was questioned for 15 hours at FIFA headquarters but not detained, with the probe centered on breaches of fiduciary duty rather than direct bribery.^[121] No arrest warrant was issued for Blatter, distinguishing his case from the detained officials, though the inquiries contributed to FIFA's Ethics Committee suspending him provisionally on October 8, 2015.^[122]

Presidential Election and Immediate Aftermath

On May 29, 2015, at the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, incumbent president Sepp Blatter secured a fifth term by defeating challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.^[60] In the first round of voting among FIFA's 209 member associations, Blatter received 133 votes, Prince Ali obtained 73, and three ballots were invalid, falling short of the required two-thirds majority (140 votes) for an immediate win.^[123] Prince Ali conceded before a second round, allowing Blatter's re-election without further balloting, amid ongoing fallout from U.S. and Swiss indictments and arrests of FIFA officials on corruption charges two days earlier.^[61] Blatter, aged 79, framed his victory as a mandate for continuity, stating in his acceptance speech that "we are moving forward" despite criticisms, with strong support from African, Asian, and some European confederations reflecting entrenched alliances built during his 17-year tenure.^[60] The election proceeded under heightened scrutiny, as U.S. authorities had charged 14 individuals, including FIFA vice presidents, with racketeering and bribery related to marketing and broadcasting rights, though Blatter was not directly implicated at the time.^[124] Four days later, on June 2, 2015, Blatter unexpectedly announced his resignation during a media conference at FIFA headquarters, citing the need for the organization to have "a new president elected by an election with a new congress" to restore stability amid the scandal's escalation.^[125] He emphasized that while he had no involvement in the alleged wrongdoing, the "events of the last few days" had created an untenable situation, and he intended to remain in office provisionally until an extraordinary congress could convene, targeted within 90 to 120 days.^[126] The decision followed reported pressure from sponsors and internal stakeholders, though Blatter denied any single trigger beyond the broader crisis.^[127] In the immediate aftermath, FIFA's executive committee accepted the resignation on June 11, 2015, accelerating reforms and ethics probes, while Swiss authorities opened a criminal investigation into Blatter personally regarding a 2 million Swiss franc payment to UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011.^[6] The announcement prompted calls for systemic overhaul, with critics like U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati hailing it as a step toward addressing "deep-rooted" governance issues, though Blatter's interim role drew accusations of delaying accountability.^[127] Membership defections, such as CONCACAF's temporary withdrawal, underscored fracturing alliances, setting the stage for the February 2016 election won by Gianni Infantino.^[126]

Resignation and Interim Leadership

On June 2, 2015, four days after securing re-election for a fifth term as FIFA president with 133 votes to 73 against Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, Sepp Blatter announced his intention to resign amid escalating fallout from U.S. and Swiss corruption investigations targeting FIFA officials.^[125] Blatter cited the need for FIFA to have a fresh mandate from its 209 member associations, stating in a press conference that "while I have been elected as president of FIFA on 29th of May, it is the will of FIFA that I step down," and called for an extraordinary congress to elect a successor within four months as required by FIFA statutes.^[128] His decision followed the arrest of seven FIFA executives in Zurich on May 27, 2015, at U.S. request, on charges including racketeering and wire fraud, which intensified global scrutiny despite Blatter not being charged at the time.^[129] Blatter continued to perform presidential duties during the transition period, overseeing organizational reforms and preparations for the successor election scheduled for February 26, 2016, while an independent committee reviewed FIFA's governance structure.^[130] However, on October 8, 2015, FIFA's Ethics Committee provisionally suspended Blatter for 90 days—later extended—over a suspected unethical payment of 2 million Swiss francs to UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011, prompting FIFA to appoint Issa Hayatou, the longest-serving vice-president from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as acting president.^[131] Hayatou, who had previously served briefly as interim president in 2006 during Blatter's knee surgery, led FIFA through the remainder of 2015 and into early 2016, managing the presidential election process until Gianni Infantino's victory on February 26, 2016.^[126] This interim arrangement under Hayatou ensured continuity amid ongoing probes, with Blatter's formal resignation taking effect upon Infantino's election, though his subsequent ethics ban prevented any return.^[132] The transition highlighted internal pressures for leadership change, as sponsors like Coca-Cola and McDonald's had demanded Blatter's immediate departure in early October 2015 due to reputational damage from the scandals.^[133]

Legal Investigations and Outcomes

FIFA Ethics Committee Proceedings

The FIFA Ethics Committee's Investigatory Chamber provisionally suspended Sepp Blatter from all football-related activities for 90 days on October 8, 2015, amid investigations into a 2 million Swiss franc (CHF) payment authorized by Blatter to Michel Platini in February 2011.^[134]^[135] The payment was described by Blatter as compensation for advisory work Platini performed for FIFA between 1998 and 2002, but it lacked a contemporaneous written contract, formal documentation, or disclosure to relevant FIFA bodies, raising concerns over transparency and potential conflicts of interest given Platini's subsequent bid for FIFA presidency.^[136]^[137] Formal ethics proceedings against Blatter commenced in November 2015, focusing on alleged breaches of the FIFA Code of Ethics, including Article 13 (general rules of conduct), Article 15 (loyalty), Article 19 (conflicts of interest), and Article 20 (bribery and corruption).^[138] The Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee issued its decision on December 21, 2015, finding Blatter guilty of unethical conduct for authorizing the "disloyal payment" without proper justification or oversight, as it violated FIFA's principles of fair play and fiduciary duty despite Blatter's claim of a verbal "gentleman's agreement."^[134]^[136] This resulted in an initial 8-year ban from football activities and a fine of CHF 50,000, with the committee emphasizing that the absence of evidence for the payment's legitimacy undermined Blatter's presidential integrity.^[134] Blatter appealed the decision to the FIFA Appeal Committee, which in February 2016 reduced the ban to 6 years while upholding the core findings of ethical violations.^[139] He further appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which in December 2016 dismissed the case (CAS 2016/A/4501), confirming the 6-year ban and noting that Blatter had "unlawfully awarded contributions" under FIFA's retirement scheme without adhering to required procedures, though acknowledging no direct evidence of personal financial gain.^[137] In a separate proceeding, the Ethics Committee's Investigatory Chamber examined Blatter's involvement in bonus payment schemes with former FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, particularly non-transparent allocations tied to World Cup successes between 2011 and 2014.^[140] On March 24, 2021, the Adjudicatory Chamber imposed a second 6-year ban and a CHF 1 million fine, ruling that Blatter breached Articles 13, 15, 20, and 25 (abuse of position) by approving excessive and undocumented bonuses exceeding CHF 10 million without executive committee approval or contractual basis, prioritizing personal alliances over organizational governance.^[140]^[8] Blatter publicly likened the Ethics Committee's processes to an "inquisition," arguing they lacked due process and were influenced by external pressures from U.S. and Swiss authorities, though these internal sanctions persisted independently of his 2022 acquittal in Swiss criminal court on related fraud charges, where prosecutors failed to prove criminal intent beyond reasonable doubt.^[141]^[142]^[143]

Swiss and International Probes

Swiss authorities launched a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter on September 25, 2015, suspecting him of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA funds during his tenure as president.^[144]^[120] The probe centered on Blatter's authorization of a 2 million Swiss franc payment to Michel Platini, then UEFA president, in February 2011, ostensibly for consulting services Platini provided to FIFA from 1998 to 2002.^[145]^[144] Prosecutors alleged the transaction constituted a "disloyal payment" lacking a written contract or proper justification, with Blatter failing to ensure adequate oversight as FIFA's top executive.^[145] As part of the inquiry, Swiss federal police searched Blatter's FIFA office in Zurich, seizing electronic data and documents.^[144] The Swiss Office of the Attorney General expanded its FIFA-related probes to encompass broader allegations, including potential irregularities in a 2005 television rights deal with International Sport and Leisure (ISL), where Blatter had approved a secret 1 million Swiss franc payment to a federation official amid the company's bankruptcy.^[146] These investigations operated under Swiss criminal law, given FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, and scrutinized Blatter's decision-making for breaches of fiduciary duty.^[147] By 2023, the probe extended internationally, with Swiss authorities coordinating a raid on the French Football Federation's headquarters in Paris linked to the Blatter-Platini payment, examining potential complicity in financial misconduct.^[148] Internationally, the U.S. Department of Justice's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) investigation into FIFA, underway since at least 2010, exposed systemic corruption in World Cup bidding processes, broadcasting rights, and marketing deals, indicting 14 officials and executives in May 2015 for wire fraud, money laundering, and racketeering.^[149] Although Blatter avoided U.S. indictment, the probe implicated FIFA's leadership structure under his 17-year presidency, with federal agents interviewing associates and uncovering bribes totaling over $150 million tied to South African and Russian World Cup bids.^[149] The U.S. efforts, contrasting with slower Swiss progress, prompted global scrutiny and FIFA reforms, while highlighting jurisdictional challenges in prosecuting cross-border sports governance violations.^[150]

Recent Acquittals and Case Closures

In March 2025, a Swiss criminal court acquitted Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini of corruption charges related to a 2 million Swiss francs (approximately $2.05 million USD) payment approved by Blatter from FIFA to Platini in February 2011.^[114]^[151] The payment was ostensibly for advisory work Platini performed for FIFA from 1998 to 2002, though Swiss prosecutors alleged it constituted fraud, forgery, mismanagement, and misappropriation of FIFA funds, arguing the loyalty oath signed by Platini undermined its legitimacy.^[152] This marked the second acquittal for the duo in the case; an initial 2022 trial had cleared them on similar grounds, but prosecutors appealed, leading to the retrial.^[153] Swiss federal prosecutors confirmed on August 28, 2025, that they would not appeal the March ruling, effectively closing the decade-long investigation into the payment after failing to prove criminal intent or breach of trust despite extensive evidence review.^[154]^[155] Blatter maintained throughout that the payment settled a legitimate, long-overdue claim, supported by the court's findings that no undue influence or personal enrichment occurred.^[156] The closure resolved one of the central threads of the 2015 FIFA scandal probes, though it did not overturn separate FIFA Ethics Committee sanctions imposed on both men in 2015 for ethics violations.^[157] Separately, on October 20, 2025, Swiss prosecutors announced plans to terminate another investigation into Blatter's financial dealings with Caribbean football associations, part of broader inquiries into FIFA's third-party payments and development fund allocations during his presidency.^[158] This decision followed insufficient evidence to sustain charges of criminal mismanagement, marking the dismissal of what remained a key unresolved probe from the post-2015 corruption crackdown.^[158] As of late October 2025, formal closure of this case was pending final procedural steps, but it represented a significant de-escalation in long-standing legal scrutiny of Blatter's tenure.^[158]

Post-Presidency

Bans and Restrictions

In October 2015, the FIFA Ethics Committee provisionally suspended Sepp Blatter from all football-related activities for 90 days amid investigations into a 2 million Swiss franc payment he authorized to Michel Platini in 2011 for consultancy work allegedly performed between 1998 and 2002.^[159] On December 21, 2015, the committee imposed an eight-year ban on Blatter, citing violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics for breaching his fiduciary duties to FIFA by making the "disloyal payment," which was deemed unfavorable to the organization and lacking proper documentation.^[110]^[29] Blatter appealed the decision, and on February 24, 2016, FIFA's Appeal Committee reduced the ban to six years, acknowledging his prior contributions to football while upholding the ethics violations.^[160]^[161] He further appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which in December 2016 rejected the challenge and confirmed the six-year duration, stating that Blatter had breached articles on loyalty, integrity, and conflicts of interest in the FIFA Code.^[137]^[162]^[163] The ban's original expiration was set for October 2021, but on March 24, 2021, FIFA's Ethics Committee added a new six-year-and-eight-month suspension for Blatter's role in approving a detrimental television rights deal with Pakistan in 2014, where rights were sold for $500,000 below market value, violating fiduciary duties and causing financial damage to FIFA.^[164]^[165] This extended his ineligibility from FIFA activities until 2028.^[166] As of 2025, the restrictions remain in effect, prohibiting Blatter from any involvement in football governance, despite separate acquittals in Swiss criminal proceedings unrelated to the ethics sanctions.^[167]^[168]

Public Commentary on FIFA Developments

Following his resignation from the FIFA presidency on June 2, 2015, Sepp Blatter has frequently commented on the organization's subsequent developments, often portraying them as detrimental to the sport's integrity and traditions. In interviews and public statements, Blatter has argued that FIFA under successor Gianni Infantino has prioritized financial gains and geopolitical alliances over football's core principles, leading to excessive commercialization and player overburden. He has specifically criticized the expansion of tournaments, claiming they undermine player welfare by scheduling too many matches without adequate rest periods.^[168] Blatter has repeatedly targeted FIFA's alignment with Saudi Arabia, particularly after the kingdom's unopposed selection as host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup on December 11, 2024. In a July 2025 interview, he stated that "football has been lost to Saudi Arabia," asserting that FIFA "offered it, and they took it," with no significant resistance from member associations. He linked this to broader decisions like the lucrative broadcasting rights deal for the expanded Club World Cup awarded to Saudi-backed DAZN in a non-competitive process, which he viewed as evidence of undue influence eroding competitive bidding standards.^[169]^[168] On tournament formats, Blatter has dismissed Infantino's proposals as shortsighted, including the 48-team World Cup starting in 2026 across six host nations, which he called an "imbecility without name" in January 2022 for logistical impracticality and dilution of the event's prestige. He extended this critique to the 2025 Club World Cup expansion to 32 teams, warning in July 2025 that "there's too much football," with elite players and clubs facing repeated strain akin to a grueling calendar extension. Blatter contrasted this with his own tenure, maintaining that such changes reflect poor governance, as echoed in a May 2025 open letter signed by stakeholders claiming FIFA is "more poorly governed today than 10 years ago" due to unaddressed structural flaws in decision-making.^[170]^[171]^[172] Blatter has also personally faulted Infantino's leadership style, describing him in December 2016 as "rude and disrespectful" toward predecessors and, by 2022, as "not a good FIFA president" for pursuing agendas detached from football's global membership base. In a September 2024 podcast, Blatter alleged persistent corruption, including Qatar's bribery of FIFA officials and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to secure the 2022 World Cup—a decision he later deemed a "mistake" in November 2022—while insisting his own efforts curbed deeper systemic issues during his time in office. These remarks, often delivered in Swiss media or European outlets, position Blatter as a defender of FIFA's original ethos against what he sees as accelerated ethical lapses post-2015 reforms.^[173]^[170]^[99]

Recent Activities and Statements

In November 2024, Blatter stated in an interview that he had "created a monster" at FIFA by fostering excessive commercialization, expressing regret that football was "going in the wrong direction" due to over-reliance on revenue streams like sponsorships and broadcasting deals.^[174] He elaborated on this theme days later, questioning "Quo Vadis football?" and criticizing FIFA's awarding of hosting rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups as prioritizing financial gain over the sport's integrity, describing it as "selling-out the game."^[175] In a September 2024 podcast interview, Blatter alleged widespread corruption within FIFA, claiming that the organization and the French presidency had been bribed by Qatar to secure the 2022 World Cup hosting rights, while detailing his own unsuccessful attempts to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine in 2022 by leveraging FIFA's influence.^[176] These disclosures, drawn from his personal recollections, contrast with FIFA's official narratives but align with prior investigations into bidding irregularities, though Blatter provided no new documentary evidence.^[177] By July 2025, Blatter publicly asserted that "football has been lost to Saudi Arabia," attributing this to FIFA's strategic partnerships and hosting decisions that favored Saudi interests, such as the 2034 World Cup bid, which he viewed as an irreversible shift in the sport's geopolitical orientation.^[168] Despite his ongoing FIFA ban, extended to 2028 for governance violations, Blatter has maintained a low public profile limited to such media commentary, with no reported involvement in official football events or administrative roles.^[165]

Personal Life and Other Allegations

Family, Health, and Residences

Blatter was born on March 10, 1936, in Visp, Switzerland, and has one daughter, Corinne Blatter Andenmatten, from his first marriage to Liliane Biner; the couple divorced shortly after their child's birth.^[178]^[179] His second wife was Barbara Käser, daughter of former FIFA general secretary Helmut Käser, whom he married in the early 1980s; she was approximately 30 years his junior.^[179] Blatter later entered a relationship with Polish tennis player Ilona Boguska, who is significantly younger than him.^[178] Corinne has publicly defended her father amid scandals and provided updates on his condition, including during his 2021 hospitalization.^[180]^[181] Blatter has experienced multiple serious health episodes, primarily related to stress and cardiac issues. In November 2015, at age 79, he was hospitalized for six days with a stress-related "body breakdown" that brought him close to death, amid ongoing FIFA investigations.^[182]^[183] He faced another health scare in July 2016.^[184] In December 2020, following heart surgery, Blatter spent over a week in an induced coma and tested positive for COVID-19, though he recovered from the virus; his daughter described it as the hardest week of her life, with a long recovery ahead.^[185]^[186] In June 2022, at age 86, ongoing health problems interrupted his testimony in a Swiss corruption trial involving Michel Platini.^[187] Blatter maintains residences in Switzerland, with his primary home in Zürich, where FIFA is headquartered.^[188] He frequently returns to his hometown of Visp in the Valais region for respite, a small mountain town that has served as a personal sanctuary amid professional controversies.^[188]

Sexual Assault Allegation

In November 2017, American soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo publicly accused Sepp Blatter, then former FIFA president, of sexually assaulting her by grabbing her buttocks during a photo opportunity at the 2013 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.^[189] ^[190] Solo, a World Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist, made the claim in an interview with Portuguese newspaper Expresso, stating the incident occurred seconds after posing for pictures and describing sexual harassment as "rampant" and "normalized" in sports, particularly amid the emerging #MeToo movement.^[191] ^[192] She emphasized that Blatter's position as "the most powerful man in football at the time" contributed to the inappropriate behavior going unchallenged.^[189] Blatter categorically denied the allegation, labeling it "ridiculous" and "absurd" in statements to media outlets.^[193] ^[194] He responded by questioning Solo's credibility, advising observers to "look at this lady's CV," a reference to her 2014 arrest in a domestic violence incident involving her half-sister and nephew, for which charges were ultimately dropped.^[194] No formal legal charges or investigations into the claim were reported, and it did not result in any disciplinary action against Blatter beyond his existing FIFA-related bans.^[195] The accusation surfaced four years after the alleged event and has not been corroborated by additional witnesses or evidence in public records.

Honours and Legacy Assessments

Awards and Recognitions

Blatter was awarded the silver Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee in 1993 for his contributions to the Olympic Movement.^[15] In 2006, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (later renamed Nelson Mandela University) conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree, recognizing his role in South Africa's reintegration into FIFA in 1992 and support for its successful 2010 FIFA World Cup bid, which advanced football development, employment, national unity, and international tourism.^[1] De Montfort University granted Blatter an honorary Doctor of Arts and Humanities in 2005, but revoked it on December 22, 2015, citing concerns over corruption allegations surrounding his FIFA presidency.^[196] On June 7, 2010, South African President Jacob Zuma presented Blatter with the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo at a gala dinner in Johannesburg, honoring his efforts in securing Africa's first FIFA World Cup hosting rights for South Africa in 2010.^[197] Other distinctions cited in institutional records include the "International Humanitarian of the Year" title and the Golden Foot award, reflecting recognition for his global sports diplomacy, though specific dates and issuers for these remain less documented in primary sources.^[1]

Balanced Evaluations of Impact

Blatter's presidency from 1998 to 2015 coincided with FIFA's transformation into a financial powerhouse, with revenues increasing from approximately $2.7 billion in the 1998-2002 cycle to over $5.8 billion by 2014, enabling expanded investments in global football infrastructure.^[36] He initiated the Goal Programme in 1999, which allocated funds primarily to smaller and developing nations for building stadiums, training facilities, and youth academies, directing disproportionate per capita support to these regions to foster grassroots growth.^[36] Under his leadership, FIFA's development spending saw a reported 57-fold increase from the 1995-1998 period to 2007-2010, totaling over $2 billion by 2015, which supporters credit with professionalizing football in Africa, Asia, and other emerging markets.^[198] These efforts culminated in milestones like the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first hosted on the continent, which Blatter highlighted as a symbol of football's inclusive global expansion.^[37] Critics argue that Blatter's emphasis on patronage and vote-securing through development disbursements entrenched corruption rather than merit-based growth, with little empirical evidence that funds leveled the playing field for poorer nations despite FIFA's earmarking of billions.^[199] His administration tolerated a culture of bribery and self-enrichment, exemplified by the 2015 U.S. Department of Justice indictments revealing over $150 million in bribes for media rights and tournament hosting decisions during his tenure.^[200] Blatter's consolidation of power, often likened to Machiavellian tactics learned from predecessor João Havelange, prioritized loyalty from confederations in Africa and Asia over governance reforms, leading to his resignation amid scandals and subsequent bans.^[27] In a 2024 reflection, Blatter himself conceded he "created a monster" by commercializing football excessively, acknowledging the organization's shift toward profit-driven excesses under his watch.^[174] Assessments of Blatter's legacy remain polarized: proponents view him as a visionary who democratized football by redirecting wealth to the Global South and staging events that boosted participation worldwide, while detractors contend his autocratic style and oversight failures precipitated FIFA's deepest crisis, necessitating post-2015 reforms like independent ethics committees and transparency mandates that have yet to fully eradicate entrenched issues.^[201] Empirical data on development outcomes shows infrastructure gains but persistent inequalities in competitive success, suggesting Blatter's model achieved scale at the expense of sustainability and integrity.^[199]

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May 29, 2015 · The 2014 qualifying rounds and final tournament brought in $4.8bn (£3.1bn) over four years and, after costs are taken into account, Fifa made a ...Missing: cycle 1998-2014
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Sepp Blatter cements position as head of Fifa as revenue tops $1bn
Mar 19, 2010 · Fifa's results for 2009 showed revenue was $1.059bn (£702m), 18% of which is profit.
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The 'mistake' that is Fifa's Club World Cup looms large. But will it ...
Nov 19, 2024 · This is the one thing the former Fifa president Sepp Blatter admits he should not have done: create the Fifa Club World Cup. “It was a ...
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Jun 11, 2025 · Once famously dubbed a "mistake" by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter ... It was introduced in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship ...
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A Little Praise for Sepp Blatter. Very Little. - The New York Times
May 30, 2015 · On his watch, the Women's World Cup has expanded from 12 teams to 16 teams to 24 this year. Though it took him decades, he did finally bring ...
[51]
Goal-line technology gets 2014 World Cup go-ahead - BBC Sport
Feb 19, 2013 · Fifa has confirmed goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The system was successfully trialled at the Club World Cup in December.
[52]
FIFA boss Sepp Blatter helps football lawmakers finally approve 2 ...
Jul 5, 2012 · ZURICH – Football finally embraced goal-line technology as FIFA's lawmaking panel approved two systems for use in matches on Thursday.
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Apr 11, 2018 · Swiss Blatter, FIFA president from 1998 to 2015, was also wary of the new 48-team format to be used at the 2026 World Cup, when the tournament ...
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May 29, 2015 · The president will be elected by secret ballot during the Fifa congress for a period of four years. · There is no age limit for presidency ...
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May 27, 2015 · The “one member, one vote” principle could, in theory, be a way for FIFA to protect its smallest members, much as the creators of the U.S. ...
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Despite Corruption Scandal, Blatter Wins Fifth Term As FIFA Chief
May 29, 2015 · Blatter needed a two-thirds majority to win during the first round; 206 valid votes were cast. Blatter received 65 percent of the vote, forcing ...
[57]
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May 28, 2015 · In the first round of voting, if either Blatter or Prince Ali wins two thirds of the vote, they win the presidency outright.
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May 21, 2015 · Blatter beat Issa Hayatou of Cameroon 139-56 in Seoul, South Korea. Blatter retained his presidency during a period of bitter internal turmoil ...Missing: details | Show results with:details<|separator|>
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FIFA presidential election results from 1904 to 2015 | Reuters
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Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president for fifth term - The Guardian
May 29, 2015 · Sepp Blatter has been officially re-elected as Fifa's president for a fifth term by the world governing body's 209 member associations.
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Sepp Blatter wins new term as FIFA president - CNN
May 29, 2015 · Sepp Blatter on Friday won a fifth term as FIFA's president after his sole rival, Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, conceded.
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Fifa reforms passed: Salary disclosure, limit on president's term ...
Feb 26, 2016 · Sepp Blatter served five terms as Fifa president dating back to 1998. Separation of political and managerial functions. The elected Fifa ...
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Sepp Blatter confirms he will stand for fifth term as Fifa president
Sep 8, 2014 · Sepp Blatter has confirmed he will stand for a fifth term as Fifa president and dismissed the prospect of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup being ...
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Mar 11, 2010 · Blatter added that using technology to help referees can be very expensive and stopping games to review decisions would destroy the sport's ...
[65]
Does football need technology? - CNN.com
Explaining the IFAB's decision, Blatter said the microchipped ball had failed in one of the seven World Club Championship matches because of interference to the ...
[66]
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Jun 29, 2010 · The Fifa president Sepp Blatter today performed an uncharacteristic U-turn, promising to consider the introduction of goalline technology.
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Goal-line technology: Sepp Blatter says Frank Lampard 'goal' key
Jul 6, 2012 · Fifa president Sepp Blatter says Frank Lampard's "ghost" goal at the 2010 World Cup played a decisive role in the introduction of goal-line technology.
[68]
Euro 2012: Sepp Blatter says goalline technology is 'a necessity'
Jun 20, 2012 · The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, says goalline technology must be introduced after Ukraine missed out on a 'goal' against England.
[69]
FIFA picks GoalControl goal-line tech system - Sports Illustrated
Apr 2, 2013 · GoalControl-4D uses 14 high-speed cameras placed strategically around a stadium to track a ball's position, in a similar manner to the the Hawk- ...
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Dec 15, 2012 · FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Saturday that goal-line technology “works” and that referees were happy to see it implemented.<|separator|>
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Fifa's Sepp Blatter reiterates call for video challenges - BBC Sport
Fifa president Sepp Blatter renews his call for football to introduce video challenges for managers during matches.
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In front of Blatter's three challengers, Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football, promised unanimous support in his speech to open ...
[73]
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Sepp Blatter launches angry attack on 'envious and jealous' Michel ...
Oct 28, 2015 · Blatter attacks Uefa, EU and media conspiracy for bringing him down. Insists controversial £1.3m payment made to Platini was above board.
[75]
Fifa decide to rotate World Cup after 2010 | Soccer - The Guardian
Aug 3, 2000 · "The committee unanimously backed Blatter's suggestion to ensure that all continents be given an equal opportunity to host the World Cup." But ...
[76]
FIFA end World Cup rotation policy - CNN.com
Blatter said the FIFA executive committee would decide on the 2018 hosts in 2011 and that bids would have to be submitted at least two years in advance. "I ...
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Oct 25, 2013 · Oct 25 (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes there should be more places at the soccer World Cup for African and Asian countries.
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Fifa's Sepp Blatter: settle race rows with handshakes - The Guardian
Nov 16, 2011 · Sepp Blatter's leadership of world football has been called into question after he denied racism was an issue and said any race-related ...
[80]
Sepp Blatter says on-pitch racism can be resolved with handshake
Nov 16, 2011 · Fifa president Sepp Blatter does not believe football has a problem with racism on the field, and says any rows between players can be ...
[81]
Sepp Blatter uses Twitter to hit back at criticism of remarks on racism
Nov 17, 2011 · Sepp Blatter has hit back at the criticism from Rio Ferdinand and others over the Fifa president's comments about racism in football.
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Blatter regrets making 'appalling' comments on racism | CBC Sports
Nov 18, 2011 · Trying to stem the uproar caused by his comments on racism, Sepp Blatter expressed regret Friday for causing offence to anyone but stopped ...
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Oct 30, 2013 · Sepp Blatter talks about racism in football. SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ▻ http://is.gd/OxfordUnion Sepp Blatter outlines what FIFA is ...
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Soccer chief's plan to boost women's game? Hotpants - The Guardian
Jan 15, 2004 · Sepp Blatter, the president of the world governing body Fifa, said women should have skimpier kit to increase the popularity of the game. "Let ...
[85]
Should women soccer players wear tighter shorts? - ESPN
FIFA president Sepp Blatter caused a minor uproar last week when he said women soccer players should start wearing "tighter shorts" to generate more interest ...
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Sepp Blatter describes himself as 'godfather' to women's football
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Sepp Blatter considers himself a 'godfather' of women's soccer
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Sepp Blatter says gay fans 'should refrain' at 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Dec 14, 2010 · Fifa president Sepp Blatter has attempted to laugh off the problems which gay supporters may face at the 2022 World Cup.
[89]
FIFA Chief Under Fire For Saying Gays Should Avoid Sex At 2022 ...
Dec 14, 2010 · Homosexuals "should refrain from any sexual activities" while attending the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Monday.Missing: views | Show results with:views
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Sepp Blatter says homosexuality is a 'moral and ethical' issue - BBC
Jun 1, 2013 · Fifa president Sepp Blatter describes Qatar's stance on homosexuality as a "moral and ethical" issue.Missing: views | Show results with:views
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Sepp Blatter apologises for offensive comments over gay supporters
Dec 17, 2010 · The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, has apologised for the fallout from his remarks that gay fans should abstain from sex during the 2022 ...
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'Qatar World Cup is a mistake' - former FIFA president Sepp Blatter
Nov 8, 2022 · Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told a Swiss newspaper "Qatar is a mistake."Missing: innovations | Show results with:innovations<|separator|>
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Sepp Blatter says choosing Qatar to host World Cup was 'a mistake'
Nov 8, 2022 · Asked why Qatar was a bad choice, Blatter made no mention of the human rights concerns that have hung over the tournament, but said: “It's too ...
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Sepp Blatter: Qatar World Cup 'is a mistake,' says former FIFA ... - CNN
Nov 9, 2022 · He said FIFA in 2012 amended the criteria it used to select host countries in light of concerns over the working conditions at tournament- ...
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Nov 8, 2022 · Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter says the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a mistake.
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Jul 30, 2010 · As Fifa president Sepp Blatter gave South Africa a near-perfect 9 out of 10 for its hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, analysts said the spin- ...
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Did South Africa pay a World Cup bribe? - BBC News
Jun 3, 2015 · This is one of the several corruption allegations engulfing Fifa, whose president, Sepp Blatter, has just announced he will be resigning. If ...
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South Africa's 2010 WCup bid implicated in corruption probe
May 28, 2015 · The image of South Africa's World Cup in 2010 has been shattered by allegations that its bid over a decade ago was involved in bribes of more than $10 million ...
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Sepp Blatter: Qatar World Cup a mistake, says ex-FIFA president
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FIFA releases report detailing alleged corruption in World Cup bids ...
Jun 27, 2017 · FIFA published an investigation report that showed how voters exploited the murky system yet allowed Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and ...
[101]
Sepp Blatter says summer World Cup in Qatar a mistake - Gulf News
Sep 15, 2018 · “The Qatar technical report ruled that it was too hot in the summer, but the [Fifa's] executive committee, with a large majority, decided to ...
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Sepp Blatter admits summer World Cup in Qatar mistake | CBC Sports
May 16, 2014 · It is "a mistake" to hold the World Cup in the searing summer heat of Qatar, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a television interview.
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Sepp Blatter admits Qatar World Cup error and backs winter switch
Sep 9, 2013 · Blatter has swung from saying that it was for the Qatari World Cup organisers to insist on a switch from summer, when temperatures can reach 50C ...
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Dec 18, 2022 · For nearly a decade, Russia and Qatar have been suspected of buying votes to win hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
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Sepp Blatter dismisses latest Qatar, Russia World Cup bid claims
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Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter regrets 2022 Qatar World Cup pick
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Nov 19, 2022 · The web of scandals includes everything from allegations of corruption, to accusations of “sportswashing” and dangerous working conditions ...<|separator|>
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Sepp Blatter Is the King of World Cup Jerks
Jun 2, 2015 · In 2002, Blatter was accused by FIFA's then secretary general and erstwhile ally Michel Zen-Ruffinen of losing the organization $500 million ...
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May 27, 2015 · Mr. Blatter has quadrupled FIFA's revenue and maintained power and support by doling out hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to each of ...
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Sepp Blatter's reign as head of Fifa marked by scandal from outset
Dec 21, 2015 · Timeline of corruption, payoffs and World Cup vote-buying that lead to disgraced Fifa president's eight-year ban from football.
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FIFA's Blatter comes out fighting despite scandal and divisions
May 30, 2015 · That support reflects Blatter's success in expanding FIFA's membership away from football's heartlands and in exploiting resentment in Africa ...
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Oct 20, 2015 · Sepp Blatter's authorisation of a payment to fellow FIFA executive Michel Platini without a written contract was a "classic conflict of interest,"Missing: tensions | Show results with:tensions
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Sepp Blatter's authorisation of Michel Platini payment 'was conflict of ...
Oct 20, 2015 · Sepp Blatter's authorisation of a payment to fellow Fifa executive Michel Platini without a written contract was a “classic conflict of interest ...
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Ex-FIFA chief Blatter and Platini cleared in corruption case | Reuters
Mar 25, 2025 · The 2022 indictment had accused Blatter and Platini of deceiving FIFA staff in 2010 and 2011 about an obligation for world soccer's ruling body ...
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Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges as World Cup inquiry ...
May 27, 2015 · Senior Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges in morning raid as Swiss police open criminal investigation into 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards.
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U.S. Indicts 14 In FIFA Corruption Inquiry - NPR
May 27, 2015 · Arrest and search warrants have been executed against senior FIFA officials and several executives for what the Justice Department says was a ...
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Dec 21, 2015 · Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since summer 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted ...
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Fifa: FBI probing Sepp Blatter role in $100m bribery scandal - BBC
Dec 6, 2015 · In 2010, Blatter suppressed a Swiss legal finding that both Havelange and Teixeria had received bribes from ISL. In 2013, Blatter told a Fifa ...
[119]
Sepp Blatter investigated by FBI over ISL bribes after Havelange letter
Dec 6, 2015 · The FBI is investigating the role of Sepp Blatter in the $100m ISL scandal after the suspended Fifa president appeared to be implicated by his predecessor.
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Swiss launch criminal probe against Sepp Blatter - CBS News
Sep 25, 2015 · The Swiss attorney general's office opened proceedings against Blatter for possible criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA money.
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Fifa boss Sepp Blatter's questioning explained - BBC News
Sep 25, 2015 · A look at key questions around the news that Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Fifa President Sepp Blatter.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Swiss open criminal proceedings against FIFA president Sepp Blatter
Sep 25, 2015 · Backed by an FBI investigation, Swiss authorities indicted nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives in May on racketeering, money ...
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Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president after Prince Ali Bin al ...
May 29, 2015 · Blatter gains 133 votes to Prince Ali's 73: not enough for a two-third majority. Of the 209 votes, three were spoiled, and so only 206 counted.
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FIFA Election: Sepp Blatter Wins 5th Term as President - ABC News
May 29, 2015 · Sepp Blatter was re-elected as the president of FIFA today amid allegations from US and Swiss authorities of alleged corruption and bribery.
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Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president after 17 years in role
Jun 2, 2015 · Sepp Blatter has dramatically quit as Fifa president, days after he was defiant in re-election for a fifth term and sparking a flurry of speculation over the ...
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Jun 5, 2015 · In the aftermath of Blatter's resignation, he addressed the way forward. "I have a great amount of respect for the President and the role that ...
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Sepp Blatter's Resignation Removes an Obstacle to FIFA Overhaul
Jun 3, 2015 · It seems clear that FIFA not only has to change its president after Mr. Blatter's resignation but also its entire culture, a foul ethos of secrecy, corruption ...
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Jun 2, 2015 · Blatter has called for FIFA to hold an “extraordinary congress” to elect a new president. FIFA rules dictate that four months notice is required ...<|separator|>
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Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal - BBC
Jun 2, 2015 · Sepp Blatter is to resign as president of Fifa amid a corruption scandal and is reportedly under investigation in the US.
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Sepp Blatter Decides to Resign as FIFA President in About-Face
Jun 2, 2015 · His mentor at FIFA was its former president, João Havelange, who was an Olympic swimmer from Brazil. Mr. Blatter served as Mr. Havelange's ...
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More than two dozen FIFA officials and their associates were implicated in a 24-year self-enrichment scheme that reached the highest levels of FIFA management.
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FIFA announces election date to replace Sepp Blatter - CBS News
Jul 20, 2015 · FIFA's 209 members, who elected Blatter to a fifth term in May, will return to Zurich next year to select a new president almost nine months ...
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Coca-Cola, McDonald's Among Sponsors Calling For FIFA ... - NPR
Oct 2, 2015 · Major sponsors want Sepp Blatter, who is being investigated for corruption, to step down immediately. He has said he'll leave the job in ...Missing: commercialization | Show results with:commercialization
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FIFA statement on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini - ESPN
Dec 21, 2015 · On Monday, FIFA's ethics committee banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activity.
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FIFA's ethics committee today decided to ban the FIFA president, vice-president and secretary general for a provisional 90-day period pending investigations.Missing: proceedings | Show results with:proceedings<|separator|>
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Sepp Blatter: Michel Platini payment based on 'gentleman's ... - ESPN
Oct 16, 2015 · Blatter says a £1.35m payment to Platini in 2011, which has seen the pair suspended by FIFA's ethics committee, was part of a "gentleman's ...Missing: violation | Show results with:violation
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Former FIFA president Blatter loses appeal against ban - Reuters
Dec 5, 2016 · "The Panel further found that Mr Blatter unlawfully awarded contributions to Mr Platini under the FIFA Executive Committee retirement scheme ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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FIFA Ethics Committee opens proceedings against Sepp Blatter ...
The investigatory chamber will investigate possible violations of art. 13 (General rules of conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art.
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FIFA Appeal Committee dismisses appeals from investigatory ...
Feb 24, 2016 · FIFA Appeal Committee dismisses appeals from investigatory chamber, Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini; grants a reduction on sentences.Missing: Sepp | Show results with:Sepp
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Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee ...
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Sepp Blatter likens Fifa ethics committee to 'Spanish Inquisition'
Dec 15, 2015 · Sepp Blatter has likened the Fifa ethics committee process that could lead to him being banned from football for years to the Spanish inquisition.
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Sepp Blatter: FIFA's ethics committee is 'like an inquisition' - ESPN
Nov 26, 2015 · This week, FIFA's ethics committee opened formal proceedings against Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini after their appeals ...
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Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini acquitted on charges of defrauding ...
Jul 8, 2022 · Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been acquitted on charges of defrauding FIFA by a Swiss criminal court. The pair were among soccer's ...
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Sep 25, 2015 · Swiss authorities have opened criminal proceedings against Sepp Blatter in a dramatic escalation of the corruption crisis engulfing football's ruling body, ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
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Sep 25, 2015 · On Friday, the Swiss Attorney General announced it had opened criminal proceedings against FIFA president Sepp Blatter on suspicion of criminal ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
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Swiss authorities missed chance to investigate Fifa's Sepp Blatter in ...
Dec 22, 2015 · Blatter, who confirmed on Tuesday that he would appeal to the court of arbitration for sport against his eight-year ban imposed by Fifa's ethics ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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What the Swiss Investigation Into FIFA Boss Sepp Blatter Means
Sep 25, 2015 · Swiss authorities on Friday announced the beginning of a criminal investigation into Joseph S. Blatter, known as “Sepp,” the long-reigning ...
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French football HQ raided in ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter case
May 17, 2023 · Criminal proceedings were opened against Blatter in September for suspected financial mismanagement regarding a 2 million Swiss franc (£1.35 ...
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Feb 16, 2016 · So far, 32 officials have been indicted, but Sepp Blatter, FIFA's former president, has avoided charges. Launch Interactive. IF YOU MENTION ...
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U.S. Success Puts Focus on Swiss Failures in FIFA Corruption Case
Apr 13, 2020 · U.S. Success Puts Focus on Swiss Failures in FIFA Corruption Case. Switzerland plans to drop a criminal case against Sepp Blatter, the former ...<|separator|>
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Ex-Fifa chief Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini cleared of corruption
Mar 25, 2025 · Ex-Fifa chief Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini cleared of corruption ... Sepp Blatter resigned as Fifa president amid a corruption scandal.
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Swiss FIFA case against Blatter, Platini closed after 10 years - ESPN
Aug 28, 2025 · The payment of FIFA money to Platini emerged in 2015 during federal investigations of international football officials by federal investigators ...
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Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini cleared in ...
Mar 25, 2025 · The former Fifa President Sepp Blatter and the France legend Michel Platini were have both been cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss ...
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Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter fully cleared of corruption charges
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Swiss prosecutors end case against Blatter, Platini
Aug 28, 2025 · Swiss federal prosecutors finally ended their case against former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini today ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
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Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini acquitted in FIFA graft case - DW
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Swiss prosecutors end 10-year FIFA case against Blatter and Platini
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FIFA executives Blatter and Platini banned from soccer for eight years
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Blatter and Platini bans cut to six years by Fifa for 'services to football'
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Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini bans reduced to 6 years by FIFA - ESPN
Feb 24, 2016 · Former FIFA chief Blatter and suspended UEFA boss Platini were banned from all football activity over a conflict of interest in a 2 million ...Missing: tensions | Show results with:tensions<|separator|>
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Dec 5, 2016 · Sepp Blatter says he has lost his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a six-year ban by FIFA.
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Fifa gives former president Sepp Blatter additional ban of six years ...
Mar 24, 2021 · Fifa has banned ex-president Sepp Blatter from football until 2028 after giving him a new suspension of six years and eight months.
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FIFA Extends Ban On Former President Sepp Blatter Until 2028
Mar 24, 2021 · FIFA banned its former president Sepp Blatter until 2028 on Wednesday after handing him a new suspension of six years and eight months for ...
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Former President Blatter banned for second time by FIFA for ...
Mar 24, 2021 · The Swiss official was originally banned for eight years before it was reduced to six by FIFA's Appeals Committee. Sepp Blatter and Jérôme ...
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Blatter and Platini back in Swiss court in long-running legal saga
Mar 3, 2025 · Former football leaders Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are back in a Swiss court as their new trial on fraud, forgery and misappropriation charges opens.
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'Football has been lost to Saudi Arabia' – former FIFA president ...
Jul 12, 2025 · In December 2015, Blatter and Platini were banned from football for eight years (later reduced to six on appeal) by FIFA after an investigation ...Missing: restrictions | Show results with:restrictions
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Sepp Blatter blasts FIFA president Gianni Infantino: 'We lost football ...
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Blatter slams World Cup plan and claims Infantino is not a good FIFA ...
Jan 26, 2022 · ... Sepp Blatter claimed Gianni Infantino was not a good FIFA President ©Getty Images. "It's an imbecility without name," said Blatter. "I have ...
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Blatter criticizes Infantino's plans for World Cup formats
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Fifa 'more poorly governed today than 10 years ago', open letter to ...
May 27, 2025 · Fifa 'more poorly governed today than 10 years ago', open letter to organisation claims · Letter calls on Fifa to 'address key structural flaws'.
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Disgraced ex-president Blatter slams 'rude and disrespectful ...
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has taken a swipe at current incumbent Gianni Infantino, labelling him "rude and disrespectful".
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'I created a monster' - Sepp Blatter explains how football is being ...
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[177]
Sepp Blatter and the FIFA Corruption Scandal - Podcast
Sep 19, 2024 · The podcast features clips from an exclusive interview with Sepp Blatter himself, who candidly reveals details of his relationship with Russian ...
[178]
FIFA's Sepp Blatter is a 'despot who wanted women footballers in ...
May 29, 2015 · They married and had a daughter, Corinne – his only child, who still works in a bistro in Visp – but as his ambition gathered pace, he ...
[179]
FIFA scandal: Sepp Blatter's track record with long list of stunning ...
Jun 5, 2015 · He then moved onto wife number two, Barbara Kaser, also 30 years his junior. She was the daughter of FIFA's former general secretary Helmut ...
[180]
FIFA president Sepp Blatter's daughter: My father relieved to resign
May 17, 2023 · Sepp Blatter's daughter Corinne has said her father was "relieved" to have resigned as FIFA president and wanted to protect his family from the media spotlight.
[181]
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter spent a week in an induced ...
Jan 21, 2021 · But there's still a long way to go,” Blatter's daughter, Corinne Blatter Andenmatten, said in an interview with Swiss media. “It was the hardest ...
[182]
Sepp Blatter: Suspended Fifa president was 'close to dying' - BBC
Nov 23, 2015 · Blatter, 79, who is serving a 90-day suspension from football, spent six days in hospital earlier this month with a stress-related illness.Missing: issues | Show results with:issues
[183]
Sepp Blatter: Recovering from 'body breakdown' - CNN
Nov 11, 2015 · Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter is recovering in hospital from “a body breakdown,” his adviser has told CNN.
[184]
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter 'stable' after being taken to hospital
Jan 8, 2021 · The 84-year-old has experienced health problems before, in November 2015 and July 2016. Last month Fifa issued a complaint of “criminal ...
[185]
Sepp Blatter spent a week in an induced coma, daughter says
Jan 21, 2021 · “In total he spent over a week in an artificial coma and was no longer able to communicate.” Blatter had a previous health scare in 2015 ...
[186]
FIFA ex-president Blatter was in coma after heart surgery, daughter ...
Jan 22, 2021 · Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter spent a week in an artificially induced coma after heart surgery last month, his daughter has told Swiss ...Missing: issues | Show results with:issues
[187]
Ex-Fifa chief Blatter's court testimony stopped as 86-year-old has ...
He has recently been suffering health issues and was in a coma following heart surgery 18 months ago, and he soon told judges that he was unable to address the ...<|separator|>
[188]
FIFA's Blatter seeks sanctuary in hometown - CTV News
Jun 6, 2015 · VISP, Switzerland -- Nestled in the Swiss mountains, the little town of Visp is far from the hustle and bustle of Zurich and the home of ...
[189]
Hope Solo says she was sexually assaulted by Sepp Blatter - ESPN
Nov 10, 2017 · ... Sepp Blatter sexually assaulted her in 2013. Speaking to ... accusations of sexual assault and harassment. "It takes tremendous ...
[190]
Hope Solo accuses Sepp Blatter of sexual assault at awards ceremony
Nov 10, 2017 · The former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been accused by Hope Solo, the USA women's football team goalkeeper, of having sexually assaulted her.
[191]
Sepp Blatter: Hope Solo accuses ex-Fifa president of sexual ... - BBC
Nov 10, 2017 · US goalkeeper Hope Solo has accused former Fifa president Sepp Blatter of sexual harassment. The World Cup winner, 36, says the incident happened at the 2013 ...<|separator|>
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Sepp Blatter accused of sexual harassment – DW – 11/11/2017
Nov 11, 2017 · "It's out of control, not just in Hollywood but everywhere," Solo said, referencing the wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations ...
[193]
Sepp Blatter on Hope Solo's allegation: 'Look at this lady's CV'
Nov 28, 2017 · Sepp Blatter again denied allegations of sexual assault. He also said Vladimir Putin had invited him to the World Cup.
[194]
Hope Solo's credibility questioned by Sepp Blatter after groping claims
Nov 30, 2017 · ... sexual harassment against him " ... Solo was arrested in a domestic violence incident in 2014, although charges ...
[195]
A #MeToo Wave Hits Global Soccer as the Women's World Cup ...
Jun 7, 2019 · ... Sepp Blatter of groping her at an awards ceremony. But the ... sexual harassment allegations. Those complaints have been forwarded ...
[196]
Sepp Blatter stripped of De Montfort University degree - BBC News
Dec 22, 2015 · Fifa president Sepp Blatter is stripped of an honorary degree ... Sepp Blatter was awarded the honorary doctorate in Arts and Humanities in 2005.Missing: medals orders
[197]
South Africa's top award for Blatter
Jun 8, 2010 · President Jacob Zuma bestowed the Order on Blatter during a gala dinner welcoming Fifa to the country in Johannesburg on Monday night. Promoting ...
[198]
Sepp Blatter: There has been a 57 fold increase in football ...
Apr 21, 2011 · Under my leadership, we achieved a 57-fold increase in FIFA's total investment in development projects during the 2007-2010 period compared to 1995-1998.
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Blatter's Reign At FIFA Hasn't Helped Soccer's Poor | FiveThirtyEight
Jun 9, 2015 · Despite FIFA's having earmarked more than $2 billion in soccer development funds under Blatter, there's no evidence that the soccer playing field has become ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
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FIFA scandal: What comes after Sepp Blatter's resignation? - CNN
Jun 3, 2015 · Sepp Blatter is resigning as FIFA president, but for now, he's still head of the influential body, and FIFA's global headaches are far from ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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What Blatter got right at FIFA: Understanding the global nature of the ...
For all his failings, Blatter was smart enough to understand that the game is global—and whoever replaces him in the leadership structure at the top of the most ...