The name of Joseph Blatter, who headed FIFA for many years in a row, in May-June 2015 was recognized even by people who are very far from sports. The whole world started talking about him, and the scandal became the reason, as usual. What else, besides appearing in international disassemblies, is the personality of this person remarkable?
The childhood and youth of the future president of FIFA
Joseph (Sepp) Blatter was born shortly before the start of World War II in one of the most reliable and prosperous countries in Europe. The birthday of the son of a car mechanic and his wife from the Swiss town of Visp (which at that time was a commune) fell on March 10, 1936.
The boy’s parents had nothing to do with sports, but Blatter’s love for football appeared quite early.
A hobby entered Joseph's life during his studies. Which, by the way, first took place in one of the local schools, and then in the schools of Sion and St. Moritz. At the age of twelve, the boy became a member of one of the amateur football clubs and played for him for 23 years - until 1971.
But, most likely, Joseph Sepp Blatter in his youth did not think that football would become the basis of his career. Because after school, he chose the University of Lausanne, where he mastered jurisprudence. The study was successful, and already in 1956, the young Sepp Blatter became the happy owner of the diploma. Which, however, was not fully used by him …
The first steps in a sports career
Immediately after graduating from the University, Blatter was admitted to the Association of Sports Journalists. Three years later, he takes a seat on the Tourism Board of the Valais canton, where he heads the public relations department. In this post, Sepp Blatter spent five years of his life (from the 59th to the 64th), and then plunged into the sport with his head and no longer "emerged."
The first serious step on the ladder of a sports career for Blatter was his work in the Swiss Hockey Federation, which began in the 64th year. Here he made his debut as a manager, acting as Secretary General.
From 1970 to 1975, the future FIFA president served on the Board of Directors of the Xamax Football Club (Switzerland).
As an employee of one of the Swiss watch companies, Sepp Blatter took an active part in preparing for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and 1976 in Montreal, which gave him invaluable experience and became a springboard for the following achievements.
By the way, there is information that it was Blatter who judged the scandalous match between the basketball teams of the USSR and the USA in 1972 (held as part of the Munich Summer Olympic Games). Sports enthusiasts remember that the judge then insisted on three underestimated seconds. And it was they who determined the fate of the match, allowing the Soviet basketball players to win.
FIFA Peak Conquest
In 1975, Blatter first "opened the door" to the International Football Federation. And immediately got the position of FIFA Technical Director. And in 1981 he “jumped” even higher, becoming the secretary general of this prestigious organization. And it was such until 1998.
In 98th, the regular (51st) congress of FIFA took place in Paris, during which Josef Blatter was elected the new president of the federation. In this post, he replaced the Brazilian João Avelange, defeating the Swede Lennart Johannson, who was heading UEFA at that time, in the election campaign.
Sepp Blatter spent 17 years in the FIFA presidency - until the summer of 2015.
Historical decisions
Sepp Blatter, whose biography is inextricably linked with the International Football Federation, managed to do a lot for almost 40 years of work in it. And even went down in history as the author of important innovations.
So, for example, while still in the position of technical director, Blatter began to implement serious educational programs in the football field and laid the foundation for holding world championships among players whose age does not exceed twenty and seventeen years. Also, with his light hand in the world, futsal championships for women began to be held.
When Joseph Blatter was president of FIFA, the world championship for the first time in football history was held simultaneously in two countries. This happened in 2002, and the hosts who hosted the competition were then South Korea and Japan.
The Swiss has always been against serious transformations of football rules. In particular, he did not support the introduction of video replays. But it was this man who introduced the automatic goal fixation system, which was tested during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Scandals
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has repeatedly found himself at the center of high-profile scandals of various kinds.
So, almost at the very beginning of Blatter’s presidency - in 2001 - his name was embroiled in a scandal over the bankruptcy of one of the companies that was a partner of the federation.
In 2010, the head of FIFA joked unsuccessfully about the World Cup in Qatar and homosexual fans who, they say, will have to refuse sex in this country. After a wave of indignation swept around the world, Blatter had to apologize and make excuses. He stated that he did not want to offend gays, and that he intends to demand tolerance from the authorities of Qatar with his taboo on gay orientation.
And only a year later - in 2011 - a new scandal broke out, now already associated with money. Everything happened on the eve of the next FIFA presidential election, and rival Sepp Blatter Mohammed bin Hammam accused him of involvement in corruption schemes. The plan did not work. The rival was out of work, and the Swiss were re-elected for a new term.
But the conflict of 2015 was perhaps the most high-profile, when a certain circle of people had doubts about the legality of the choice of Russia and Qatar for the role of host countries of the 2018 and 2022 world championships. respectively. The main initiators of the proceedings were the Americans.
They accused the top of FIFA (in particular, Blatter's deputies) of many years of corruption policy and dishonesty of schemes when choosing venues for the championships. More than a dozen federation employees were arrested. And all this is again ahead of the FIFA presidential election.
As a result, a special commission of the International Football Federation conducted an investigation and did not find any alleged violations against Russia and Qatar. But 80-year-old Sepp Blatter still won the election - his rival Ali bin Al-Hussein at the last moment unexpectedly withdrew his candidacy.
The elections were held on May 29, and on June 2, the re-elected president resigned … And two days later, the Americans indicted him personally.
Sepp Blatter about the United States and claims to his person prefers not to speak particularly. The only thing I allowed myself was to express bewilderment and shock about the charges.
Blatter Awards
But not only scandals “grew” on Blatter’s labor field. In his piggy bank - many awards from around the world, as well as international level. The main order is, of course, the Olympic. And besides him - the orders and crosses of France, Venezuela, Djibouti, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Catalonia and Ukraine.
