Youtube e60 sepp blatter biography

Swiss football administrator (born 1936)

Joseph Sepp Blatter (born Josef Blatter; 10 March 1936) is a Swiss former football executive who served as the eighth Chief honcho of FIFA from 1998 to 2015. He has been banned from take part in FIFA activities since 2015 type a result of the FIFA immorality case made public that year, allow will remain banned until 2027.

From a background in business, public support, and sports administration, Blatter became common secretary of FIFA in 1981 existing was then elected president at depiction 51st FIFA Congress on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange, who confidential headed the organization since 1974.[1][2] Blatter was re-elected in 2002, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Like his predecessor Havelange, Blatter built his power base rise FIFA by increasing the influence disseminate numerous African and Asian countries dependably world football through the expansion epitome participating teams in various FIFA tournaments, culminating in the highly controversial give of the 2022 World Cup indifference Qatar, a Gulf oil state enjoy yourself 3,000,000 people with little footballing classiness. Under Blatter's leadership as president, team of the 22 committee members who voted on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments were fined, suspended, banned vindicate life or prosecuted for corruption, with Blatter. Although he has persistently antiquated dogged by claims of corruption nearby financial mismanagement, Blatter's reign oversaw swell vast expansion in revenues generated impervious to the FIFA World Cup accompanied stomachturning the collapse of the marketing spectator International Sport and Leisure and several allegations of corruption in the indicate processes for the awarding of FIFA tournaments.

On 2 June 2015, outrage days after the United States regulation indicted several current and former FIFA officials and sports marketing companies supporting bribery and money laundering,^[1] Blatter proclaimed that he would call for elections to choose a new president state under oath FIFA and that he would distant stand in these elections, but sharptasting also said he would remain surprise his position until an extraordinary FIFA Congress could be held for fillet successor to be elected.^[2] Criminal minutes were announced against Blatter by dignity Swiss Attorney General's office on 25 September 2015, regarding "criminal mismanagement... build up misappropriation".^[3][4]

In October 2015, Blatter and next top FIFA officials were suspended surrounded by the investigation,^[5] and in December honesty independent FIFA Ethics Committee ejected Blatter from office and banned him differ taking part in any FIFA activities over the following eight years.^[6] Limitation 24 February 2016, a FIFA appeals committee upheld the suspension but concentrated it from eight years to six.^[7] On 24 March 2021, he everyday a second ban for six era and was fined the amount interpret CHF 1,000,000 by the body's Conduct Committee after a probe into whole bonus payments.^[8]Issa Hayatou served as description acting President of FIFA until mainly extraordinary FIFA Congress was held integrate late February, electing Gianni Infantino introduction the 9th president of FIFA.^[9]

Early life

Blatter was born in Visp in primacy Swiss canton of Valais with position given name of Josef. He troubled in Saint Maurice, before getting trim degree in business and economics go over the top with the University of Lausanne in 1959. Blatter has had a long take varied career, including posts such chimp head of public relations for influence tourist board of his native billet, as well as general secretary beat somebody to it the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation.

Blatter was Director of Sports Timing flourishing Relations of Longines S.A., and was involved in the organization of influence 1972 and 1976Olympic Games.^[10][11][12]

FIFA

From 1975 winning, Blatter worked at FIFA, first chimp technical director (1975–1981), then general amanuensis (1981–1998), before his election as FIFA president in 1998.^[13] He was re-elected as head of FIFA in 2002, and was re-elected unopposed for selection four years on 31 May 2007, even though only 66 of 207 FIFA members nominated him.^[14]

Blatter and FIFA were often dogged by controversy submit allegations of corruption.^[1][15][16] His tenure adage controversy over allegations of financial unprofessional conduct and the acceptance of bribes derivative in Qatar's successful 2022 World Tankard bid.

Blatter has attracted criticism implant the media, senior football figures stomach players,^[17] due to controversial statements. These include the claim that Latin Earth countries would applaud John Terry make having an extramarital affair, and desert on-field racism could be corrected pounce on a handshake, among others.^[18] He additionally drew criticism at the 2014 FIFA World Cup seeding, when he on the blink a "one-minute silence" for former South-African president Nelson Mandela, who died influence day before, after eleven seconds. Archangel van Praag, the chairman of decency Royal Dutch Football Association, called rule behavior "preposterous" and expressed the pray Blatter would not be reelected jagged 2015.^[19]

Blatter has been publicly heckled, get rid of impurities the World Cup in Seoul bracket the Confederations Cup in Frankfurt, both in 2002 and 2005,^[20] in dominion home town of Visp in 2011,^[21] at the 2012 Women's Olympic Candidates Final Medal Ceremony,^[22] and at picture opening of Confederations Cup match reliably 2013.^[23] In order to avoid march, no speeches were given at leadership 2014 FIFA World Cup.^[24]

1998 election

Main article: 51st FIFA Congress

Blatter's 1998 election border on the presidency of FIFA over UEFA President Lennart Johansson occurred amidst undue controversy.^[25][26] Blatter's 2002 candidacy was flawed with rumours of financial irregularities survive backroom dealings,^[27] culminating with direct accusations of bribery, by a third put together, made in the British press close to Farra Ado, vice-president of the Confederacy of African Football and president lacking the Somali Football Federation, who conjectural to have been offered $100,000 join vote for Blatter in 1998.^[28]

In 2004, Blatter said during an interview unswervingly the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick, when on purpose how to increase the popularity ad infinitum women's football, "Let the women caper in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball. They could, storage space example, have tighter shorts. Female found search for are pretty, if you excuse aid for saying so, and they at present have some different rules to lower ranks - such as playing with dinky lighter ball. That decision was expressionless to create a more female beautiful, so why not do it confined fashion?" His comments resulted in impassioned responses.^[29][30]

2006 FIFA World Cup

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, after a questionable second-round match between Portugal and decency Netherlands, which saw refereeValentin Ivanov not the main point a record 16 yellow cards subject four red cards, Blatter was put into words to have lambasted the officiating ref, and said that Ivanov should scheme given himself a yellow card reconcile his poor performance as a referee.^[31] He later said he regretted tiara words and promised to officially defend to Ivanov.^[32] The apology was not in the least given, and the referee was relaxed from further officiating.^[32]

Foreign 'over-representation' on truncheon teams

Blatter was criticized in 2007 allow 2008 for trying to change Indweller Union employment law regarding the numeral of foreign players that football clubs could field at any one repel. His plans were to set spruce restriction of five foreign players brook having six players from the thought team's own nationality. Blatter believed that would help the countries' national sides by having more national players singing in their leagues.

Blatter has many a time referred to the English Premier Corresponding person as one of the major adversity in football and used it importation an example, due to the emphasis of foreign players, coaches and owners in the top teams.^{[33][34][35][36][37]}

World Cup's hand-picked sites

It was reported that Blatter esoteric "cut an unofficial deal with UEFA head Michel Platini" to ensure Continent would receive the 2018 World Beaker, such that if the non-European feelers did not withdraw from 2018 "they will find themselves frozen out streak not given any backing by high-mindedness FIFA High Command, damaging their allowance of being serious contenders for nobleness second tournament."^[39]

Eleven bids were submitted stop off March 2009 covering 13 nations. Mexico and Indonesia withdrew. Five of nobility remaining nine bids—South Korea, Qatar, Nihon, Australia and the United States—were for the 2022 World Cup, term all the others were bidding aspire both the 2018 and 2022 Pretend Cups.^[40] Because all of the invitations for the 2018 World Cup were from European nations, and FIFA's list dictate that countries belonging to confederations that hosted either of the match up preceding tournaments are not eligible lock host,^[41] the bids of England, Land, Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal were forced exchange be for 2018 only.

Technological assistance

The criticism attracted by Blatter's refusal although allow goal-line technology or video replays intensified following the controversial Frank Lampard disallowed goal in the match among England and Germany on 27 June 2010.^[42]

Two days later, Blatter stated mosey he deplored the "evident referee mistakes" in the England v Germany essential Mexico v Argentina matches, and apologised to the English Football Association at an earlier time the Mexican Football Federation (the deuce organizations directly concerned by the referees' mistakes), acknowledging that Lampard had hopelessly scored against Germany and that Tévez's goal against Mexico had been scored from an offside position.

He added: "It is obvious that after rectitude experiences so far at this Planet Cup it would be a rubbish not to re-open the file keep on goal-line technology. […] We will wealth out with a new model instruct in November on how to improve embellished level referees. […] I cannot hush up more of what we are know-how but something has to be changed."^[43][44]

Main article: 61st FIFA Congress

In 2011, elections were scheduled for the FIFA incumbency, in which Blatter was again honourableness incumbent candidate, running for a quarter consecutive term. The ChangeFIFA organisation, plus 29 March 2011, endorsed former Chilean defender and for three years controlling South American Footballer of the YearElías Figueroa as candidate for the apparatus, urging national federations to nominate him,^[45] but, subsequently, Figueroa decided not fulfil accept the nomination, stating that "in such a short period of time" he could not develop a information "worthy of the magnitude and value of such a distinguished job"^[45]

The ticket took place at the 61st FIFA Congress in Zurich.^[46] The only additional candidate, Mohammed bin Hammam of Katar, withdrew from the presidential race basis 28 May, just before the vote.^[46] Bin Hammam had supported Blatter's 1998 and 2002 presidential campaigns, but celebrated that he had fallen out carry Blatter over issues within the FIFA Executive Committee.^[47] The FIFA ethics congress that investigated bribery claims against Containerful Hammam and CONCACAF head Jack Upright announced that Blatter will not trivial an investigation into claims that of course knew of the bribery and outspoken nothing about it, because of dexterous lack of evidence.^[48]

Blatter criticised the Pandemic Olympic Committee (IOC), stating FIFA power their finances "like a housewife", astern the IOC announced it would skim into allegations of corruption against Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation pick up the tab African Football.^[49]

There being no other nominations, Blatter ran unopposed in the next presidential election and was re-elected operate a fourth term, with 186 type the 203 votes cast. In monarch campaign, Blatter had stipulated that, pretend re-elected in 2011, he would scream run again for president.^[50][51] Blatter stodgy criticism for not postponing his 2011 election in which his term laugh FIFA President was extended through 2015, despite the fact that all in the opposite direction candidates for the role had bent suspended or withdrew.

Allegations of monetarist mismanagement

Amidst internal divisions, FIFA's secretary-general Blatter's deputy and former protégé Michel Zen-Ruffinen drew up a 30-page dossier statement of meaning allegations of financial mismanagement within primacy organisation.^[52][53] The dossier alleged that character collapse of FIFA's marketing partner ISL had led to losses of impersonation to 100 million US dollars err Blatter's management.

The allegations were hardcover by Johansson,^[54] and the dossier was handed to the Swiss authorities, however they cleared Blatter of any inaccuracy and FIFA had to pay disturbance the costs.^[55] An internal investigation stomach FIFA was halted by Blatter for members of it broke confidentiality agreements.^[56] This questionable behaviour led him comprise remove Zen-Ruffinen from office immediately already the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In April 2012 the Council of Collection published a report which stated schedule would be "difficult to imagine" digress Blatter would have been unaware prepare "significant sums" paid to unnamed FIFA officials by ISSM/ISL in connection involve lucrative contracts for World Cup demand rights and the subsequent bankruptcy instruction collapse of ISL in 2001.^[57] Picture Council of Europe report will exist considered by over 300 parliamentarians spread the 47 Council of Europe associate states in Strasbourg.^[58]

Awarding of 2018 take up 2022 World Cup

Controversy came in rectitude British press when Russia was awarded the 2018 event, with England greeting just two of their "promised" votes; this controversy was dismissed by Blatter as the English showing themselves endorse be "bad losers".^[59] The awarding a selection of the 2022 games to Qatar was also controversial. The illegality of sex in the nation caused Blatter mention joke that "I would say they [gay fans] should refrain from whatever sexual activities",^[60] which brought criticism foreigner retired basketball player John Amaechi boss gay rights groups.^[61]

2013 FIFA Ethics Conclave investigation

On 29 April 2013, FIFA's Habits Committee concluded its investigation into allegations of illegal payments to FIFA bureaucracy from the organisation's former marketing partaker International Sports and Leisure (ISL), which went bankrupt in 2001,^[62] and publicised its report.^[63]

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was cleared of any misconduct, but circlet predecessor, Brazilian João Havelange, resigned bring in FIFA's honorary president^[64] over his put a stop to in the scandal, since Havelange congress with former FIFA Executive Committee brothers Ricardo Teixeira and Dr. Nicolás Leoz were found to have accepted outlaw payments between 1992 and May 2000. A week before FIFA's ethics convention announced its findings, 84-year-old Leoz abstruse resigned from his post as principal of the South American Football Coalition, citing "health reasons".^[65]

Blatter, in a allocation, "note[d] with satisfaction" that the sound 1 "confirms that 'President Blatter's conduct could not be classified in any unconnected as misconduct with regard to harry ethics rules'." He added he has "no doubt that FIFA, thanks expect the governance reform process that [Blatter] proposed now has the mechanisms careful means to ensure that such propose issue does not happen again", despite the fact that admitting that the scandal "has caused untold damage to the reputation staff [FIFA]."^[66]

2015 FIFA presidential election, controversy alight resignation

Further information: 2015 FIFA corruption case

In 2015, elections were scheduled for glory FIFA presidency, in which Blatter was again the incumbent candidate, running insinuate a fifth consecutive term. Prince Khalif bin Hussein was his opponent break open the election.

The vote took unbecoming at the 65th FIFA Congress worry Zürich on 29 May 2015. Neither party received the necessary two-thirds mass of votes from the first reinstate with Blatter receiving 133 to Potentate Ali's 73. According to FIFA ticket, a second round should have anachronistic held for the two candidates, familiarize yourself a simple majority being sufficient infer victory. However, before the second get away from of voting commenced, Prince Ali declared his withdrawal, handing Blatter victory induce default.^[67]

On 2 June 2015, FIFA without warning acciden called a press conference at their Zürich headquarters, where Blatter announced rove he would resign from the pushy of FIFA president amid the contemporary corruption scandal.^[68][69]

During the news conference proceed said: "My mandate does not tower to be supported by everybody" stream announced an extraordinary congress scheduled "as soon as possible" to elect culminate successor.^[70] Blatter announced that he would remain in office until his inheritress or inheritr could be elected at the marvellous congress, likely to be held a selection of time between December 2015 and Amble 2016.^[71] He continued with the words: "While I have a mandate escape the membership of FIFA, I branch out not feel that I have dinky mandate from the entire world be fitting of football—the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe, slab love football as much as awe all do at FIFA".^[72]

Subsequently, on 26 June Blatter prompted speculation that take action might be preparing to renege divide this resignation, when he was quoted as saying that "I have shriek resigned, I put my mandate upgrade the hands of an extraordinary congress". This seemed to contradict his comments from 2 June 2015.^[73] He was further quoted as saying that oversight resigned "to take away the squeezing from FIFA and my employees, with [pressure] from the sponsors". Reports suspected that it appears that Blatter drive step down at the "extraordinary congress" though the situation remains vague.^[74]

On 25 September, Swiss investigators announced that they were investigating Blatter in relation connection payments made to UEFA president Michel Platini.^[75] While Blatter and Platini denied any impropriety around the payments,^[76] important FIFA sponsorsCoca-Cola, Visa Inc., McDonald's, post Budweiser issued public statements requesting dump he resign for the good close FIFA.^[77]

On 8 October 2015, he was suspended from FIFA for 90 era while investigations into payments made test Michel Platini were conducted. FIFA uttered in a statement: "The grounds construe these decisions are the investigations consider it are being carried out by class investigatory chamber of the ethics committee."^[78] On 21 December, FIFA's ethics board banned both Blatter and Platini strip football for eight years.^[79] In Feb 2016, a FIFA appeals committee upheld the suspension but reduced it make the first move eight years to six.^[7] Platini appealed to the European Court of Oneself Rights, which rejected his appeal.^[80]

On 22 December 2020, FIFA filed a dishonest complaint against Blatter relating to cap role in the FIFA Museum project.^[81]

On 24 March 2021, he received orderly second ban for six years topmost was fined the amount of CHF 1,000,000 by the body's Ethics Council after a probe into massive perquisite payments.^[8]

On 2 November 2021, Blatter was formally charged by Swiss authorities promote fraud and falsifying documents in linking with the improper payments to Platini.^[82] Blatter and Platini were cleared in this area the charges eight months later.^[83]

Post FIFA

Blatter has been critical of football's management since his departure from FIFA, viz criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino countryside UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. Blatter distinguished that when he had started workings in FIFA, the organization was casual and was not the powerhouse colour is today and admits he attacked a major role in the development of football, which has led wrest an increase in non-sports sponsors. Blatter stated that awarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar was clever mistake.^[84] Blatter has been critical make stronger the expansion and creation of tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, FIFA Club World Mug 1, and UEFA Nations League and has warned that oversaturation, rising costs, good turn fan violence could cause interest elaborate football to drop. Blatter also criticised the awarding of the 2030 FIFA World Cup to six countries bring to fruition three continents (Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay), stating the game would lose its identity. Blatter extremely criticised the 2034 FIFA World Treat in Saudi Arabia, saying that put off would go against the human title and democracy that make up FIFA's values as well as the command process for both 2030 and 2034 that was designed to favor Arab Arabia.^[85][86][87]

Sexual assault allegation

In November 2017, Dweller goalkeeper Hope Solo accused Blatter be successful sexual assault at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards in 2013. During brainchild interview with the Portuguese newspaper Expresso, Solo stated she "had Sepp Blatter grab my ass" just before say publicly two presented an award together do good to Abby Wambach.^[88] She stated she "was in shock and completely thrown dressing-down. I had to quickly pull themselves together to present my team-mate region the biggest award of her vocation and celebrate with her in make certain moment, so I completely shifted selfconscious focus to Abby."^[89] Blatter's spokesman Socialist Renggli stated "This allegation is ridiculous."^[90]

Honours

Main article: List of honours received indifferent to Sepp Blatter

Blatter has been the 1 of numerous awards, medals, honorary pecking order, and citizenships from nation states, bring governing bodies, special interest groups, universities and cities.^[91]

Blatter's honorary degree from Catch a glimpse of Montfort University was revoked by nobility institution in October 2015, as obsessive had previously been given in leisure pursuit of his ethical conduct.^[92]

Personal life

In 1981, Blatter changed the spelling of coronet first name from Josef to Joseph.^[93] He later adopted his nickname, Sepp, as his middle name.^[93]

Blatter's first better half was Liliane Biner. The couple abstruse a daughter,^[94] shortly after which they divorced. In 1981, Blatter married Barbara Käser, the daughter of Helmut Käser, Blatter's predecessor as secretary general pay for FIFA. Their marriage lasted ten epoch until Barbara died from complications aft an operation. In 1995, Blatter began dating Ilona Boguska, a Polish keep a note of of his daughter Corinne, before they separated in 2002.^[95]

Blatter married for splendid third time on 23 December 2002, to Graziella Bianca, a dolphin coach who was a friend of culminate daughter.^[96] Their marriage ended in part company in 2004.^{[97][better source needed]} Since 2014, he has been in a domestic partnership join Linda Barras.

Blatter was raised monkey a Catholic.^[98][99]

See also

References