Sepp Blatter
Josef Blatter,[2] mostly known as Sepp Blatter, (born 10 March 1936) is a Swiss association football administrator. He is best known as the 8th President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association).[3] He served as president from 1998 until his resignation in 2016. He replaced the popular João Havelange. His presidency ended when he was banned from FIFA on 21 December 2015. He officially left office after Gianni Infantino replaced him on 26 February 2016.
Sepp Blatter | |
|---|---|
 Blatter in April 2015 | |
| 8th President of FIFA | |
| In office 8 June 1998 – 26 February 2016 | |
| Preceded by | João Havelange |
| Succeeded by | Gianni Infantino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Josef Blatter[1] 10 March 1936 Visp, Valais, Switzerland |
| Spouse(s) | Liliane Biner Barbara Käser (m. 1981–1991) Graziella Bianca (m. 2002–2004) |
| Domestic partner | Ilona Boguska (1995–2002) Linda Barras (2014–present) |
| Children | Corinne (daughter) |
| Residence | Zürich, Switzerland |
Early life
Blatter was born in Visp, Switzerland. He studied at the University of Lausanne.
President of FIFA (1998-2016)
Blatter was elected President of FIFA on 8 June 1998 succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected in 2002, 2007, 2011[3] and 2015. But on 2 June, just days after being re-elected, he announced that he would resigned after a new president would be elected due to corruption accusations.[4] On 8 October 2015, Blatter and other top FIFA officials were suspended amid the investigation.[5]
On 21 December 2015 it was announced that Blatter would be banned for a period of eight years amid the corruption case.[6][7] He left office on 26 February 2016 after Gianni Infantino replaced him.
Personal life
Blatter was married to Liliane Biner, but the marriage didn't last. Then he married Barbara Käser in 1981. The couple divorced in 1991. Then he married Graziella Bianca in 2002. The couple divorced in 2004. He was in a relationship with Ilona Boguska from 1995 through 2002. He is now in a relationship with Linda Barras as of 2014. Blatter has one daughter, Corinne.
Blatter lives in Zürich, Switzerland with Boguska and his daughter.
Honors
- Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, South Africa[8]
- Order of the Rising Sun, Japan[9]
Sepp Blatter Media
Blatter (left) with João Havelange, President of FIFA (April 1982).
Blatter at Zurich Train station in November 2013
Blatter with Barack Obama and Jack Warner. In the vote for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, U.S. President Obama said that FIFA made "the wrong decision" in awarding Qatar the tournament in 2022.
Blatter (right) with Luis Suárez, the Player of the Tournament of the 2011 Copa América.
Blatter in a press conference with Presidents of Asian Football Confederation Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa and Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Kafashian in Tehran
References
- ↑ "Zum 75. Geburtstag von Sepp Blatter: Top Ten und Bilderstrecke – 11 Freunde". 11FREUNDE.de.
- ↑ "FIFA President's Biography". FIFA. Archived from the original on 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 FIFA.com, About the President Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-8-21.
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live The Guardian
- ↑ "FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Other Top Officials Suspended". New York Times. 8 October 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-michel-platini-jerome-valcke-fifa-suspended.html?_r=0. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ↑ "Sepp Blatter: End of era for Fifa boss". BBC News. 21 December 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32985553.
- ↑ "Fifa: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini get eight-year bans". BBC Sport. 21 December 2015. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35144652.
- ↑ Presidency of South Africa, Sepp Blatter[dead link]; retrieved 2012-8-21.
- ↑ Ryall, Julian. "Sir John Major to receive prestigious award from Emperor of Japan," The Telegraph (UK). 7 May 2012; retrieved 2012-8-21.
Other websites
Media related to Joseph Blatter at Wikimedia Commons
- FIFA President's page on official website of FIFA Archived 2017-11-14 at the Wayback Machine