Sepp Blatter

Joseph (Sepp) Blatter is the Swiss president of soccer's world governing body, FIFA, a post he has held since 1998. He succeeded Dr. João Havelange of Brazil.

Mr. Blatter, who won the presidency in 1998 and was elected without opposition in his last two campaigns, is surely counting on the election’s rules to preserve his power. FIFA’s president is elected by a one-country, one-vote system among its 209 member associations. That has allowed Mr. Blatter to use his popularity, the relationships he has cultivated over a 40-year career at FIFA and his ability to deliver millions of dollars in development money as an effective counterweight to his unpopularity in Europe. [1]

On May 29, 2015, Blatter was reelected for a fifth term. He has not been directly implicated in the probes by U.S. and Swiss authorities into accusations including bribes-for-votes for the right to host the sport’s grand prize, the World Cup. In an address, the Swiss-born Blatter urged delegates to display “unity and team spirit” in dealing with the allegations and called for measures to uncover any deeper rot within FIFA. [2]