Sports

The Sepp Blatter story in pictures

Sepp Blatter remains barred from football after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected his bid to get his ban overturned, effectively spelling the end of the 80-year-old's career in football administration.

Progressive career

When Sepp Blatter arrived at FIFA in 1975, he had already had a few interesting jobs in his career. He had been general secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Association, press secretary of the Swiss Sports Association, and director of public relations at a Swiss watch manufacturer. By 1981, Blatter had risen to the position of general secretary at FIFA.
Right at the top

After 17 years as general secretary under FIFA President Joao Havelange, the economics graduate was elected president of football's world governing body. In 1998, he beat the favorite, then-UEFA President Lennart Johansson to become Havelange's successor. Shortly afterwards, rumors emerged that he had bought votes to ensure his victory.
Huge loss

In 2002 Blatter's own general secretary, Michel Zen-Ruffinen, took on the president, presenting a 30-page document accusing him of financial mismanagement. Blatter prevented an internal investigation, but the dossier was handed to Swiss authorities. Blatter was cleared of any wrongdoing.
And the winner is ... Germany!

In the summer of 2000 the right to host the 2006 World Cup was awarded to Germany. Blatter was known to favor the South African bid and had the vote finished in a tie, as appeared probable, he could have cast the deciding vote. However, Oceania delegate Charlie Dempsey abstained, citing "intolerable pressure" from outside handing the decision to Germany.
Blatter and Mandela

Blatter always liked to rub shoulders with the world's movers and shakers. In 2004, he went to South Africa, where he met with former President and national hero Nelson Mandela. Having failed to bring the World Cup to South Africa in 2006, he promised South Africa and Mandela the 2010 World Cup.
Vote buying in the Middle East

Mohammed bin Hammam, a FIFA Executive Committee member from Qatar, was once a close confidante of Blatter. In 2011, Bin Hammam announced his intention to run against Blatter in the election for FIFA president - only to be confronted with bribery allegations. He withdrew his candidacy and was later banned for life by FIFA.
The person I am

The FIFA president enjoyed traveling the world, and was particularly welcome in many countries in Africa and Asia, from where he drew much of his power base at football's world governing body.
The president and the 'Kaiser'

Sepp Blatter and Franz Beckenbauer were once close associates. However, in 2014, Beckenbauer was banned for 90 days by FIFA for refusing to cooperate with an inquiry into corruption surrounding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The ban was lifted after he agreed to cooperate. Last March, the Ethics Committee opened formal proceedings against him over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup.
Throwing in the towel

Four days after his controversial re-election as FIFA president in May 2015, Sepp Blatter announced that he would step down. In October 2015, FIFA suspended him over a dubious payment to UEFA President Michel Platini. Two months later, FIFA's Ethics Committee banned both men from football for eight years. A FIFA appeals committee later reduced the bans from eight to six years.
Banknote shower

A lasting image? In July 2015, a British comedian posing as a journalist approached the podium as Sepp Blatter was about to hold a news conference after an Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich. The prankster tossed a wad of banknotes in the air before he was led off by security.
Bound by a dubious payment

Then-UEFA President Michel Platini had once been seen as the favorite to succeed Blatter in FIFA's top job. However, the bans imposed on both of them over a dubious payment made for consulting work conducted years earlier ended any hopes Platini had of succeeding Blatter. Instead, his former secretary general at UEFA, Gianni Infantino, was elected FIFA president in February 2016.
Six-year-ban upheld

On December 5, 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the Blatter's six-year ban from all football-related activities. FIFA had initially banned him for eight years in December 2015, but this was later reduced to six by FIFA's appeals committee. Given his advanced age, this would appear to have ended his career as a top football administrator.

Progressive career

When Sepp Blatter arrived at FIFA in 1975, he had already had a few interesting jobs in his career. He had been general secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Association, press secretary of the Swiss Sports Association, and director of public relations at a Swiss watch manufacturer. By 1981, Blatter had risen to the position of general secretary at FIFA.
Right at the top

After 17 years as general secretary under FIFA President Joao Havelange, the economics graduate was elected president of football's world governing body. In 1998, he beat the favorite, then-UEFA President Lennart Johansson to become Havelange's successor. Shortly afterwards, rumors emerged that he had bought votes to ensure his victory.
Huge loss

In 2002 Blatter's own general secretary, Michel Zen-Ruffinen, took on the president, presenting a 30-page document accusing him of financial mismanagement. Blatter prevented an internal investigation, but the dossier was handed to Swiss authorities. Blatter was cleared of any wrongdoing.
And the winner is ... Germany!

In the summer of 2000 the right to host the 2006 World Cup was awarded to Germany. Blatter was known to favor the South African bid and had the vote finished in a tie, as appeared probable, he could have cast the deciding vote. However, Oceania delegate Charlie Dempsey abstained, citing "intolerable pressure" from outside handing the decision to Germany.
Blatter and Mandela

Blatter always liked to rub shoulders with the world's movers and shakers. In 2004, he went to South Africa, where he met with former President and national hero Nelson Mandela. Having failed to bring the World Cup to South Africa in 2006, he promised South Africa and Mandela the 2010 World Cup.
Vote buying in the Middle East

Mohammed bin Hammam, a FIFA Executive Committee member from Qatar, was once a close confidante of Blatter. In 2011, Bin Hammam announced his intention to run against Blatter in the election for FIFA president - only to be confronted with bribery allegations. He withdrew his candidacy and was later banned for life by FIFA.
The person I am

The FIFA president enjoyed traveling the world, and was particularly welcome in many countries in Africa and Asia, from where he drew much of his power base at football's world governing body.
The president and the 'Kaiser'

Sepp Blatter and Franz Beckenbauer were once close associates. However, in 2014, Beckenbauer was banned for 90 days by FIFA for refusing to cooperate with an inquiry into corruption surrounding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The ban was lifted after he agreed to cooperate. Last March, the Ethics Committee opened formal proceedings against him over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup.
Throwing in the towel

Four days after his controversial re-election as FIFA president in May 2015, Sepp Blatter announced that he would step down. In October 2015, FIFA suspended him over a dubious payment to UEFA President Michel Platini. Two months later, FIFA's Ethics Committee banned both men from football for eight years. A FIFA appeals committee later reduced the bans from eight to six years.
Banknote shower

A lasting image? In July 2015, a British comedian posing as a journalist approached the podium as Sepp Blatter was about to hold a news conference after an Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich. The prankster tossed a wad of banknotes in the air before he was led off by security.
Bound by a dubious payment

Then-UEFA President Michel Platini had once been seen as the favorite to succeed Blatter in FIFA's top job. However, the bans imposed on both of them over a dubious payment made for consulting work conducted years earlier ended any hopes Platini had of succeeding Blatter. Instead, his former secretary general at UEFA, Gianni Infantino, was elected FIFA president in February 2016.
Six-year-ban upheld

On December 5, 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the Blatter's six-year ban from all football-related activities. FIFA had initially banned him for eight years in December 2015, but this was later reduced to six by FIFA's appeals committee. Given his advanced age, this would appear to have ended his career as a top football administrator.

Date 05.12.2016
Number of pictures 12
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Sports

The Sepp Blatter story in pictures

Progressive career

Right at the top

Huge loss

And the winner is ... Germany!

Blatter and Mandela

Vote buying in the Middle East

The person I am

The president and the 'Kaiser'

Throwing in the towel

Banknote shower

Bound by a dubious payment

Six-year-ban upheld