Sepp Blatter

Sepp Blatter, born on March 10, 1936, is a Swiss former football administrator who made a significant impact on the world of sports as the eighth president of FIFA from 1998 to 2015. With a background in business, public relations, and sports administration, he initially served as FIFA's general secretary starting in 1981. His election as president at the 51st FIFA Congress marked the beginning of a controversial yet transformative era for the organization.

During his presidency, Blatter was re-elected multiple times, in 2002, 2007, 2011, and 2015. He was known for expanding the influence of African and Asian countries in global football, which included increasing the number of participating teams in FIFA tournaments. However, his tenure was marred by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement, particularly surrounding the contentious decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

On June 2, 2015, amidst a wave of indictments against FIFA officials by the United States government for bribery and money laundering, Blatter announced he would not seek re-election. Despite this, he intended to remain in office until a successor was chosen. His situation worsened when the Swiss Attorney General's office launched criminal proceedings against him for mismanagement and misappropriation.

In October 2015, Blatter faced suspension alongside other FIFA officials as investigations unfolded. By December, he was banned from all FIFA activities for eight years by the independent FIFA Ethics Committee, a suspension later reduced to six years. In March 2021, he received an additional six-year ban and a fine of one million Swiss francs due to a probe into substantial bonus payments. Following his suspension, Issa Hayatou served as acting president until Gianni Infantino was elected as his successor in February 2016.