Sepp Blatter, born on March 10, 1936, is a Swiss football administrator who served as the eighth President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) from 1998 to 2015. He was born in Visp, Switzerland, and grew up in the canton of Valais. He studied business administration and economics at the University of Lausanne and later worked for several companies in Switzerland.
Blatter’s association with FIFA began in 1975 when he was appointed Technical Director. He rose through the ranks and was elected as the General Secretary in 1981, a position he held until he was elected as the President in 1998. During his tenure, FIFA grew in size and influence, but his presidency was also marked by controversy and allegations of corruption.
One of the highlights of Blatter’s presidency was the expansion of the World Cup to 32 teams in 1998, which allowed more countries to participate in the tournament. He also oversaw the introduction of the Women’s World Cup and the Confederations Cup, which are now an integral part of FIFA’s calendar.
In 2015, Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as President of FIFA, but just days after the election, he announced his resignation amid mounting pressure and allegations of corruption. He was subsequently banned from all football-related activities for six years by FIFA’s ethics committee, which was later reduced to four years after an appeal.
Blatter has always maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing. Despite the controversies that surrounded his presidency, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of football administration.