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Sepp Blatter Brings His FIFA Reign to an End

5 minute read

Sepp Blatter, who proclaimed to the world that he was “president of everybody” after winning a fifth term as head of FIFA on Friday, will soon be nobody’s president.

In a stunning turn, Blatter, who seemed to hold so firm to the stance that he, and he alone, could clean up the corrupt organization that he presided over, announced on Tuesday that he would step down as FIFA’s leader, a position he has held since 1998. An extraordinary FIFA congress will meet to elect a new president: the head of FIFA’s audit committee said the timing of the election is “likely to be between December and March.”

Reality got the best of Blatter. Three days after the U.S. government indicted nine FIFA officials for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering, FIFA’s membership somehow granted Blatter another term. Blatter’s largesse, in the form of grants to so many tiny nations around the world, bought enough votes to clinch a victory that would last all of four days. But it couldn’t stop the storm pounding the organization that, in his words, is “dear to me.”

Was it pending legal trouble that helped bring down Blatter? He painted his resignation as a selfless act, an attempt to give FIFA a fresh start. But his troubles could just be starting. A New York Times report said that Blatter’s top lieutenant made a $10 million bank transaction that puts the bribery trail that much closer to Blatter himself. The New York Daily News reported that Aaron Davidson, one of the sports marketing executives arrested in the U.S. probe into FIFA’s business practices, is trying to cut a plea deal. Will he, and other indicted officials, be singing about Blatter? “Let me be clear,” Kelly Currie, acting U.S. attorney for the eastern district of New York, said last week. “This indictment is not the final chapter of our investigation.” The president’s defiant words on Friday — “Why would I step down? That would mean I recognize that I did wrong” — may yet come back to haunt him.

But Blatter is nothing if not tenacious. “I am a mountain goat that keeps going and going and going,” he once said. “I cannot be stopped, I just keep going.”

Joseph S. Blatter was born in Visp, a remote Swiss Alpine town, and was sportswriter, PR rep, and reportedly a wedding singer before he rose up the ranks at FIFA, where he has worked since 1975. Since he took over as FIFA president in 1998, corruption has tainted his reign. During his first presidential election, there were allegations that some votes were bought. One month before his 2011 re-election, Blatter pledged $1 million in FIFA money at an assembly for CONCACAF, the regional soccer governing body for North America, Central America and the Caribbean at the center of the current scandal.

Almost immediately after FIFA decided in December 2010 to award World Cups to Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, bribery allegations began surfacing. Last week, the Swiss government announced a criminal investigation specific to the bidding process for these events. The Qatar decision has also sparked a humanitarian crisis. Migrant workers have toiled in triple-digit heat building the stadiums and infrastructure needed for the tiny Gulf nation to host the world’s most popular sporting event. According to a 2014 report from International Trade Union Confederation, 1,200 migrant World Cup workers from India and Nepal have died.

Under Blatter, FIFA has operated with little real transparency. This is an organization that produced a $27 million propaganda film in which Blatter was the hero.

His few supporters will point to his achievements; he did disperse money to many poor countries, where amenities like soccer facilities provided real benefits. The women’s World Cup, and women’s soccer overall, grew in popularity, though Blatter was a clumsy steward. The self-proclaimed “godfather” of women’s soccer once suggested that women wear tighter outfits to attract more fans, and before this year’s women’s World Cup, which kicks off June 6, top players sued FIFA for gender discrimination.

FIFA’s revenues ballooned under Blatter: FIFA currently has $1.5 billion in cash reserves. But how much was the president himself responsible for this business success, given the entrenched popularity of the World Cup, and an environment where media outlets are paying record rights fees across many sports to broadcast big events?

Whoever FIFA elects as its next president will have to grapple with Qatar – can a World Cup conceivably be staged there, given the human toll? — and cleaning up the disgraced organization. Tough times are ahead. But Blatter’s resignation offers hope, for many soccer fans around the globe, that the game’s organizing body can start to reform itself.

“Have a nice day,” a FIFA flack said at the end of the stunning press conference that ended the Blatter era. For soccer fans around the globe, indeed, it was.

Stunning similarities of the 2014 World Cup

A silhouette of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is seen reacting during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match agaisnt Germany at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador
Left: Argentina's Lionel Messi prepares to shoot a corner kick during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Switzerland at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo. Right: A silhouette of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is seen reacting during their match against Germany at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador.Victor R. Caivano—AP; Dylan Martinez—Reuters
Left: Argentina soccer fans celebrate as they travel on a train towards the Corinthians arena at the Luz Station before the match between Argentina and Switzerland. Right: Fans of England gather in a bar ahead of the England's match against Uruguay in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Left: Argentina soccer fans celebrate as they travel on a train towards the Corinthians arena at the Luz Station before the match between Argentina and Switzerland. Right: Fans of England gather in a bar ahead of the England's match against Uruguay in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nacho Doce—Reuters; Oli Scarff—Getty Images
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Left: US fans cheer before the start of the match between the US and Belgium in Chicago. Right: Mexico's fans celebrate holding a mask of Mexico's head coach Miguel Herrera after the group A World Cup soccer match between Croatia and Mexico at the Arena Pernambuco.Tannen Maury—EPA; Ricardo Mazalan—AP
A reflection of cheering fans is seen before the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo
Left: A reflection of cheering fans is seen before the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo. Right: Brazilian fans await the kick off of a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.Ivan Alvarado—Reuters; Odd Andersen—Getty Images
Brazil's Neymar controls the ball against Cameroon during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia
Left: Argentina's Lionel Messi fights for the ball during their match against Iran at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte. Right: Brazil's Neymarcontrols the ball against Cameroon during their match at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia.Kai Pfaffenbach—Reuters; Dominic Ebenbichler—Reuters
Fan of the U.S. is pictured before their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match against Portugal at the Amazonia arena in Manaus
Left: Fans of Brazil during the game between Brazil vs Germany in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Right: A US fan before their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match against Portugal at the Amazonia arena in Manaus.Victor Moriyama—Getty Images; Dylan Martinez—Reuters
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Left: Colombia's midfielder James Rodriguez reacts as he leaves the pitch after the quarter-final football match between Brazil and Colombia at the Castelao Stadium. Right: Brazil's Neymar reacts to a missed shot during the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals between Brazil and Colombia at the Castelao arena. Eitan Abramovich—AFP/Getty Images; Jorge Silve—Reuters
World Cup Fans Gather To Watch Matches In Rio
Left: A group of Chilean soccer fans walk through the streets as they wait for their team to play Spain during the World Cup. Right: Fans of England wearing full-body suits pose for a photograph in a bar before the England match against Uruguay on in Sao Paulo.Joe Raedle—Getty Images; Oli Scarff—Getty Images
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Left: Argentine striker Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Iran during their match in Belo Horizonte. Right: Costa Rica's Joel Campbell celebrates with the match ball after scoring against Uruguay during their match at the Castelao stadium.Gustavo Andrade—AFP/Getty Images; Dominic Ebenbichler—Reuters
Nuns from the enclosed monastery of Imaculada Conceicao, celebrate their victory at the end of the 2014 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Brazil and Colombia in Piratininga
Left: Patients at the Asuncion Psychiatric Hospital watch the first match of the World Cup between Brazil and Croatia, in Asuncion, Paraguay. Right: Nuns from the enclosed monastery of Imaculada Conceicao celebrate Brazil's victory as they watch on television.Jorge Saenz—AP; Nacho Doce—Reuters
Ivory Coast's Serey Die is seen from the back during their 2014 World Cup Group C soccer match against Japan at the Pernambuco arena in Recife
Left: Brazil's Neymar stands during the 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Right: Ivory Coast's Geoffroy Serey Die is seen from the back during their 2014 World Cup Group C soccer match against Japan.Marcelo del Pozo—Reuters; Brian Snyder—Reuters;
Left: Portugal fans pose prior to the Group G match between Germany and Portugal at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, Brazil. Right: Brazil fans pose prior to the game between Brazil vs Germanyin Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Left: Portugal fans pose prior to the Group G match between Germany and Portugal at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, Brazil. Right: Brazil fans pose prior to the game between Brazil vs Germanyin Belo Horizonte, Brazil.Odd Andersen—AFP/Getty Images; Nilton Fukuda—DPA/ZUMA Wire
England's goalkeeper Hart rolls inside the goalpost after Italy's Balotelli scored during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Amazonia arena in Manaus
Left: Brazil's forward Neymar reacts after missing a goal opportunity during a match between Brazil and Mexico in the Castelao Stadium. Right: England's goalkeeper Joe Hart rolls inside the goalpost during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Amazonia arenaFrancois Xavier Marit—AFP/Getty Images; Francois Marit—Reuters
A fan of Argentina waits for the start of their 2014 World Cup Group F soccer match against Bosnia at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro
Left: A Japan fan looks on before the 2014 World Cup Group C soccer match against Colombia at the Pantanal arena Right: A fan of Argentina waits for the start of their 2014 World Cup match against Bosnia at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Jorge Silva—Reuters;Pilar Olivares—Reuters
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Left: A life-size image of a woman promoting a shop stands in the street where children play soccer in the Pelourinho neighborhood of Salvador, Brazil. Right: Local Indian footballers carry cutout portraits of Brazilian soccer player Neymar and Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi to a local football club in Kolkata, India Rodrigo Abd—AP; Dibyangshu Sarkar—AFP/Getty Images
Colombia's fans hold toy figurine of Colombia's Falcao as they watch a broadcast of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game between Colombia and Uruguay, at Bolivar Square in Bogota
Left: Argentina soccer fans hold miniature Lionel Messi dolls while watching a telecast of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Right: A Colombian fan holds a toy figurine of Colombia's national soccer player Falcao as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup in Bogota, Columbia. Nabor Goulart—AP; John Vizcaino—Reuters
Left: Lionel Messi of Argentina controls the ball during the match between Argentina and Switzerland at Arena de Sao Paulo. Right: Colombia's James Rodriguez scores a goal during the match against Uruguay e at the Maracana stadium.
Left: Lionel Messi of Argentina controls the ball during the match between Argentina and Switzerland at Arena de Sao Paulo. Right: Colombia's James Rodriguez scores a goal during the match against Uruguay e at the Maracana stadium.Matthias Hangst—Getty Images; Felipe Dana—Reuters
Brazil Soccer WCup Argentina
Left: Argentina fans pose before a quarter-finals match between Argentina and Belgium in Brasilia, Brazil. Right: A man wearing a horse mask, stands in the middle of Argentine fans celebrating their team's victory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Liu Dawei—Xinhua; Leo Correa—AP
Left: A Mexico soccer fan cries after her team was defeated by the Netherlands inside the FIFA Fan Fest area in Rio de Janeiro. Right: A U.S. soccer fan watches his team's World Cup match against Belgium on a live telecast inside the FIFA Fan Fest area in Rio de Janeiro.
Left: A Mexico soccer fan cries after her team was defeated by the Netherlands inside the FIFA Fan Fest area in Rio de Janeiro. Right: A U.S. soccer fan watches his team's World Cup match against Belgium on a live telecast inside the FIFA Fan Fest area in Rio de Janeiro.Leo Correa—AP (2)
Left: A fan dressed as Captain America looks on after Belgium's 2-1 victory in extra time during World Cup match between Belgium and the US. Right: A Brazil fan wearing a mask depicting Neymar sits in the stands at the end of the World Cup semi-final match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Left: A fan dressed as Captain America looks on after Belgium's 2-1 victory in extra time during World Cup match between Belgium and the US. Right: A Brazil fan wearing a mask depicting Neymar sits in the stands at the end of the World Cup semi-final match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.Laurence Griffiths—Getty Images; Leonhard Foeger—Reuters
Left: A donkey wears the colors of Brazil as it stands on a beach of Cumbucu, Brazil. Right: A dog wearing Brazilian soccer team colors walks on the Minhocao, a 2.2-mile stretch of highway, in Sao Paulo.
Left: A donkey wears the colors of Brazil as it stands on a beach of Cumbucu, Brazil. Right: A dog wearing Brazilian soccer team colors walks on the Minhocao, a 2.2-mile stretch of highway, in Sao Paulo.Aris Messini—AFP/Getty Images; Zackary Canepari—The New York Times
Match highlights are screened after the 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match between Spain and Chile at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro
Left: Match highlights are screened after the 2014 World Cup match between Spain and Chile in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Right: The final score is projected on a screen after the 2014 World Cup semi-finals between Germany and Brazil in Belo Horizonte, BrazilRicardo Moraes—Reuters; Damir Sagolj—Reuters
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Left: Germany's Thomas Muller celebrates a goal during a semifinal match between Brazil and Germany. Right: Argentina's Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi celebrate after winning their FIFA World Cup semi-final match against the Netherlands.Li Ga—Xinhua; Fabrice Coffrini—AFP/Getty Images

 

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Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com