February 2, 2005. Copyright 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Profile of powerful soccer chief, Sepp Blatter
By Elisabeth Ribbans

LONDON, February 2, Graphic News:  Sepp Blatter, the most powerful figure in world soccer, has seen a lot of mud thrown his way since he was elected to succeed Joao Havelange as president of the gameÕs governing body, Fifa, in 1998. But the Swiss former PR man seems too slick for it to stick: in 2002, despite allegations of mismanagement and bribery -- and the collapse of a marketing company hired by Blatter to promote two World Cups that cost Fifa $60m -- Blatter won a second four-year term in a landslide victory. ÒCertain people,Ó he said afterwards, sounding rather hurt, had tried to paint him as Òa bad manÓ. But Òyou cannot be so bad when this happensÓ.

Fluent in five languages, and as skilled in backroom politics as he is at big-stage oratory, he has used his presidency to promote humanitarian causes, including campaigns with Unicef and the International Labour Organisation on childrenÕs rights and the provision of football equipment to refugee camps. Critics claim that his dedication to the developing world may not be entirely selfless: with a voting system that gives every Fifa member nation an equal vote regardless of size, the support of Africa -- which in 2010 hosts its first World Cup -- has been crucial.

Born in Visp on March 10, 1936, Joseph ÒSeppÓ Blatter played in the Swiss amateur football league before moving into journalism and public relations, notably for watchmaker and Olympic sponsor Longines. Since becoming head of Fifa he has not shied away from controversy. From advocating a ban on beer and sandwiches in football grounds and suggesting that women players should wear tighter shorts, to calling for top divisions to be cut to 16 teams and proposing a radical change to the offside rule, he entertains and enrages but shows no signs of letting go. Married three times and currently single, Blatter has said: ÒYou could say my fiancee is a woman called Fifa.Ó
/ENDS