Joseph S. Blatter - Past FIFA Presidents - FIFA.com © Getty Images Born 1936 On 8 June 1998 Joseph S. Blatter was elected as successor to Dr João Havelange, becoming the eighth FIFA President. His victory at the 51st FIFA Ordinary Congress in Paris elevated the Swiss, who had already served FIFA in various positions for 23 years, to the highest position in international football. During his tenure, FIFA heavily strengthened its football development activities across the globe and its ability to impact society beyond the field of play by instigating a variety of educational, health and social programmes. Under his stewardship, the organisation widely expanded its portfolio of tournaments by adding the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. On 2 June 2015 Blatter announced that he would be laying down his mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress, which took place on 26 February 2016 in Zurich.

Past Presidents Sepp Blatter - 10 things you should know about former Fifa president - Telegraph Sepp Blatter Sepp Blatter - 10 things you should know about former Fifa president From offending women and gay people, to hating the media (despite being a former journalist) - how the Swiss climbed to the top of football Follow 1. Sepp Blatter was born in Visp, a remote Alpine town in Switzerland in 1936. He has been married three times and has one daughter, Corinne, who lives in Visp where she owns a local restaurant. “I think when he’s gone, when he’s not Fifa president, they are going to realise what he has done,” she said. “Thanks to him the world is a little better.” 2. He sought election as Fifa president for an unprecedented fifth term . He worked at Fifa since 1975, first as technical director, then general secretary for 17 years from 1981 and then as Fifa president for the past 17 years, having first been elected in 1998 (below). 3.

Blatter is fond of reminding journalists that he was once a sports writer and member of the International Association of Sports Journalists. He had graduated from the University of Lausanne with a business degree and previously worked in PR. So legend has it, he also worked as a wedding singer to supplement his income. • Gary Neville: Players must lead revolution to topple Blatter 4. Blatter has regularly offended with his remarks about women in football. Asked how to improve the popularity of their sport, he said: “Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball. They could, for example, have tighter shorts. Female players are pretty if you excuse me for saying so.” 5. He has also caused outrage over his pronouncements on racism in football (he said “there is no racism”), on homosexuality (he advised gay fans at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to “refrain”) and told John Terry, following allegations of an extramarital affair, that “if this happened in, let’s say Latin countries, then I think he would be applauded”. 6. Allegations of serious corruption by Fifa officials have followed his presidency .

Last week’s 47 FBI charges span almost 25 years and involve more than £97.5 million in illegal payments. The individuals indicted by the US prosecutors are nine Fifa officials and five marketing executives. Blatter himself has not been charged. 7. Blatter (pictured below with Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe) might be despised by many football fans and officials in Europe but has been brilliant at shoring up his power base by remaining hugely popular with countries in Asia and Africa. Each of the 209 Fifa nations has one vote in today’s election , regardless of the population, meaning Montserrat, Cape Verde and Curacao have as much say as Germany, Brazil and England. 8. There appears little hope of England hosting the World Cup without huge reform in Fifa. Immediately before voting for the 2018 World Cup, Blatter apparently reminded members of the executive committee of the “evils of the media”. He also blamed the UK media for creating the controversy over Qatar hosting the World Cup, despite the allegations of bribery and the tournament being moved to the winter because it was subsequently decided that the original bid proposal was not feasible.

“Sadly there is a great deal of discrimination and racism, and this hurts me,” said Blatter. 9. Sepp Blatter’s salary as Fifa president has never been disclosed, but it is estimated that £100 million a year was paid out to executives in personal expenses and that Fifa’s revenue stands at £3.7 billion. 10. He speaks fluent French, Italian, English, German and Spanish. Friends, colleagues and rivals generally concur that he can be charming - note his tendency to dance (dreadfully) at major public events - but utterly ruthless. “When it serves him – and when his power is at stake – he will do almost anything to defend it,” said Gerhard Aigner, Uefa’s former general secretary. A history of Fifa corruption Cash for votes exposé October 2010 Reynald Temarii, president of the Oceania Football Confederation, is recorded telling Sunday Times reporters that two bids had offered "huge" payments for his support in the 2018 World Cup bidding process and that he had received offers of between $10-12 million (£7.5 million).

Amos Adamu, a Fifa executive committee member from Nigeria, says he wants $800,000 (£500,000) to build four artificial football pitches, which contravenes Fifa's rules. Both men tell reporters they could facilitate access to the men who’ll decide where the tournaments will be held. Adamu and Temarii are provisionally suspended from all football-related activity pending the outcome of an investigation. Sunday Times also exposed the referees committee, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and former executive committee member Ismael Bhamjee. Blatter promises investigation October 2010 Fifa president Sepp Blatter writes to all 24 executive committee members promising a full investigation into allegations. It emerges that the Spain-Portugal and Qatar bids could face expulsion from the contest for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments if the duo are found guilty of colluding. Spain-Portugal’s bid leader accuses England of doing a deal with the USA in breach of Fifa regulations.

Temarii and Adamu are banned November 2010 It is reported that the Spain-Portugal and Qatar World Cup bids could escape censure over the allegations of collusion, after Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer confirms that no hard evidence had been passed to its ethics committee. Adamu is suspended for three years and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£6,341) while Temarii is banned for a year and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,170). Panel concludes there is insufficient proof of collusion between the Spain/Portugal and Qatar bids. Russia and Qatar win World Cup bids December 2010 English FA is humiliated as Russia is handed 2018 World Cup finals; Qatar gets the 2022 tournament. Roger Burden, acting chairman of the FA, stands down after relations between FA and Fifa descend into acrimony. Burden said he “wanted nothing more to do with them [Fifa]”. Swiss government prepares to investigate risk of corruption in sports bodies based in the country following Fifa’s controversial award of the two World Cup finals.

Telegraph reveals Qatar corruption January 2011 Documents seen by Telegraph Sport reveal that Qatar offered to relocate the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation to Doha. Evidence emerges of Qatar and Spain-Portugal collusion February 2011 Blatter confirms that the Qatar and Spain-Portugal World Cup bids colluded to trade votes in the contest for the 2018 and 2022 finals. FA and Fifa at loggerheads May 2011 Geoff Thompson endorses Sepp Blatter’s campaign to retain the Fifa presidency despite having been chairman of England’s failed World Cup bid. Telegraph Sport discloses that England football officials hired a “corporate investigations” company to investigate their rivals during the failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Six of Fifa’s executive committee are accused in Parliament of “improper and unethical behaviour” during World Cup bidding. Fifa demand the FA provide evidence to support allegations of corruption and “unethical” behaviour against six executive committee members. Blatter vows to complete the inquiry before presidential election. The FA reveal they will hold independent inquiry into Lord Triesman’s allegations of corruption against four Fifa executive committee members.

The FA board agrees to abstain in the forthcoming Fifa presidential election because of doubts over the probity of both Blatter and his challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam. Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid committee accuses Parliamentary committee of “insulting” behaviour as it launches attempted fight-back against allegations of corruption leveled against it. The FA call for the June 1 Fifa election to be postponed and for an independent review of the world governing body’s structures. Blatter runs for re-election March 2011 Reports say the FA will support any challenger to Sepp Blatter in forthcoming Fifa presidential election. Fifa presidential challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam considers striking deal with Michel Platini that would see him step aside in favour of the Uefa president after just one four-year term if he is successful in his campaign to unseat Sepp Blatter. Blatter promises to hand out $1 billion (£610,000) in “development” funds to the 208 members associations that will decide his fate as president in the forthcoming Fifa election.

Bin Hammam and Warner are suspended May 2011 Fifa presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam says Amadou Diallo, a Guinean national accused in Parliament of facilitating bribes on behalf of Qatar’s World Cup bid, is a close friend of his but not involved in any wrongdoing. Amadou Diallo, the man accused of facilitating bribes on behalf of Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid worked for Fifa for at least six years as an advisor to Mohamed Bin Hammam, the governing body confirms. It then emerges that Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, a Fifa vice-president, are to face disciplinary action for allegedly offering bribes to members of the Caribbean Football Union in exchange for votes in forthcoming election. Fifa's ethics committee suspend the pair from all football-related activity pending the outcome of a full inquiry into bribery accusations. Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke confirms that an email in which he made the sensational allegation that Qatar "bought" the 2022 World Cup is genuine after Warner, the recipient, reveals it to the press.

Qatar dismiss bribery claims July 2011 The whistleblower in FIFA 2022 corruption claims, Phaedra Almajid retracts her claims. Hassan Al-Thawadi, the secretary-general of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, dismisses bribery claims. He then outlines the nation's plans to construct air-conditioned stadiums. Telegraph reveals FBI investigation December 2011 The Daily Telegraph reports that the FBI are investigating alleged hacking into email accounts for England and America’s World Cup bids. Fifa launches investigation into corruption practices July 2012 Fifa employ American attorney Michael J. Garcia to investigate allegations of corruption in world football. A month later, Garcia declares his intention to investigate the bidding process and decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar Blatter insists Qatar World Cup will be held in the summer March 2013 Blatter claims that Qatar will host the World Cup in the June-July summer slot as planned, amid growing speculation it will be moved to the winter.

Fifa begins to turn on itself July 2013 FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger labels the decision to award Qatar the hosting rights of the 2022 Cup as a "blatant mistake." Blatter’s admission August 2013 Blatter confirms that that the FIFA executive committee will meet to decide on when the 2022 World Cup should be held, due to Qatar's hot climate. He admits that playing the World Cup in the summer there is "not rational and reasonable''. Blatter goes onto say that Fifa made “a mistake” when appointing Qatar as the host nation for the 2022 World Cup. Fresh bribery allegations emerge June 2014 Millions of new documents are made public by the Sunday Times, showing how bribes changed hands in order to secure Qatar the 2022 World Cup. Fifa claims it is taking the claims seriously. Garcia report is blocked September 2014 Garcia delivers his 350-page report, but Hans-Joachim Eckert, the head of the adjudicatory arm of FIFA's ethics committee, declares that it will not be made public for legal reasons.

Instead, Eckert reveals that he will produce a summary of the report ready for public consumption by November 2014. Eckert releases his summary and Garcia resigns November 2014 Eckert makes public the 42-page summary of his findings after reviewing the Garcia's report. The summary clears both Russia and Qatar of any wrongdoing during the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Critics denounce Eckert’s summary as ‘a whitewash’, while Garcia denounces it as "materially incomplete" with "erroneous representations of the facts and conclusions". FIFA's Appeal Committee then dismiss Garcia's appeal against the Eckert summary. Garcia resigns a day later, before FIFA's executive committee agree to publish a "legally appropriate version" of the Garcia report. Sponsors withdraw from Fifa January 2015 Following Sony and Emirates ending their sponsorship contracts with Fifa, Castrol, Continental and Johnson & Johnson withdraw as pressure mounts on Blatter to quit. Blatter faces new challenger January 2015 Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan announces he will run against Blatter in May Fifa presidential elections.

Later in the month Greg Dyke announces that his bid has the FA’s support. Telegraph reveals Warner was paid millions by Qatari firm March 2015 Documents show that the former Fifa vice-president and his family were paid millions by a company controlled by a former Qatari football official shortly after the country won its bid for the 2022 World Cup. Warner appears to have been personally paid $1.2?million (£720,000), while payments totalling almost $750,000 (£450,000) were made to Mr Warner’s sons. A further $400,000 (£240,000) was paid to one of his employees. It’s a Winter World Cup March 2015 Fifa confirm the Qatar World Cup will be held in November and December 2022. Premier League clubs demand compensation for the disruption. Figo quits Fifa presidential race May 2015 Former footballer Luis Figo withdraws from the race, due to Blatter’s "dictatorship".

He also claims to have seen incidents that "should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic". Fifa officials arrested in US corruption investigation May 2015 Dawn raids see six Fifa executives arrested in Zurich, with 14 detained overall. The charges against those arrested include fraud, racketeering and money laundering and relate to World Cup bids as well as marketing and broadcast deals. Amongst those arrested are vice president of the executive committee Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, Uruguay's Eugenio Figueredo, who is also an executive committee vice president and until recently was the president of South America’s football association and the notorious Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, a former member of the executive committee who has been accused of numerous ethical violations. Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president – as it happened | Football | The Guardian Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president – as it happened Updated Sepp Blatter announces he will resign as the president of Fifa after 17 years in the role.

Wednesday 3 June 2015 01.06 EDT First published on Tuesday 2 June 2015 11.32 EDT Closing summary Claire Phipps We are bringing this live blog to a close now, but do join us on the new one, over here . In the meantime, a summary of where we – and Fifa – stand right now: Outgoing Fifa president Sepp Blatter is now part of the corruption probe by US prosecutors, according to reports by the New York Times , ABC News and Reuters . Blatter, in a shock announcement on Tuesday, said he would step down as Fifa president, though said he would stay in place for several months to allow a “proper election” of a successor. Fifa president Sepp Blatter leaves after his statement at Fifa headquarters on Tuesday. Photograph: Ruben Sprich/Reuters Qatar has responded to claims that more than a thousand migrant workers have died during the construction of its World Cup sites, insisting: Not a single worker’s life has been lost. Not one.

The Qatar Football Association also replied snippily to claims by English FA chairman Greg Dyke that they would be having a sleepless night after the resignation of Blatter, saying: We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. 00:08 Qatar: 'Not a single worker's life has been lost' The state-run Qatar News Agency has published a denial by the Government Communication Office of claims surrounding the deaths of migrant workers working on World Cup sites. (Read the Guardian’s investigation into these deaths here and here .) The Qatari rebuttal tackles a blog published by the Washington Post , which said 1,200 migrant workers are estimated to have died during the construction of World Cup sites, and a further 4,000 could die by 2022: This is completely untrue. In fact, after almost five million work-hours on World Cup construction sites, not a single worker’s life has been lost. Not one … Qatar has more than a million migrant workers.

The Global Burden of Disease study, published in the Lancet in 2012, states that more than 400 deaths might be expected annually from cardiovascular disease alone among Qatar’s migrant population, even had they remained in their home countries. It is unfortunate that any worker should die overseas, but it is wrong to distort statistics to suggest, as the Post’s article did, that all deaths in such a large population are the result of workplace conditions. The Post’s article was accompanied by a dramatic graphic, which purports to compare the imagined fatalities in Qatar with the number of lives lost in the construction of other international sports venues, including the London Olympics, where just one worker was reported to have died. A more accurate comparison according to the Post’s analysis would have also suggested that every migrant worker in the United Kingdom who died between 2005 and 2012 – whatever the job and whatever the cause of death – was killed in the construction of the 2012 London Olympics. Qatar’s Government Communication Office says it is demanding an immediate retraction of the article. 23:09 There’s another contender to succeed Blatter: Diego Maradona.

Admittedly, he’s not put himself forward, but the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has said he’s just the fellow for the job, Reuters reports: “The president of the international football federation should be Diego Armando Maradona or someone like him,” said Maduro during his weekly televised address. “Diego Armando Maradona has been denouncing Fifa for decades; they’ve threatened him and they’ve laughed at him.” Maradona, who led Argentina to a 1986 World Cup victory, has said he has been “enjoying” the scandal. He has been openly critical of Blatter and in the last elections voiced support for Blatter’s rival, Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein. A lifelong supporter of leftist causes, Maradona was a close friend of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez and has maintained warm relations with Maduro, who was elected after Chavez’s 2013 death from cancer. One of the Fifa officials arrested during last week’s police operation in Switzerland was Rafael Esquivel, who is also head of the Venezuelan Football Federation. “The state prosecutor’s office has ordered a full investigation of the Venezuelan Football Federation,” Maduro said.

“I, as head of state, support it entirely.” Maduro criticised US authorities for operating beyond their jurisdictions, and suggested the investigation was part of a US plot to scrap World Cup tournaments in ideological allies Russia and Qatar. “They are getting Blatter out of the way so that they can govern Fifa,” he said. “The manoeuvre is meant to see how they can take the World Cup away from Russia and Qatar or to sabotage them so that they cannot shine.” Here’s Maduro hosting his weekly broadcast, looking pretty Match of the Day himself: Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro speaks during his weekly broadcast “en contacto con Maduro”. Photograph: Handout/Reuters Updated 22:40 Blatter 'being investigated by US' – reports Blatter’s resignation came amid reports in US media that he is being investigated by US authorities as part of their corruption inquiries. The New York Times said US law enforcement officials had confirmed that Blatter himself was now the focus of a federal corruption investigation, after seven current and former Fifa officials were arrested last week, and a further seven indicted alongside them.

Blatter had attacked the move by the US justice department, saying after his re-election last Friday: No one is going to tell me that it was a simple coincidence, this American attack two days before the elections of Fifa . It doesn’t smell good. Why would I step down? That would mean I recognise that I did wrong. I fought for the last three or four years against all the corruption. But the New York Times now reports : Mr Blatter had for days tried to distance himself from the controversy, but several United States officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that in their efforts to build a case against Mr Blatter they were hoping to win the cooperation of some of the Fifa officials now under indictment and work their way up the organization. The FBI has not commented publicly on the claim. When will Blatter go? Not immediately. Not even soon. In announcing his decision to step down as Fifa president, Blatter also signalled his intention to hang on for at least a further six months. An extraordinary congress would be held to stage another election – possibly between December 2015 and March next year.

Blatter said he would continue in his role until a successor was in place: I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as Fifa president until that election. So it’s not impossible that Blatter could still be heading Fifa well into 2016 … Brazilian former footballer Zico has just thrown his hat into the ring as Blatter’s potential successor. In a Facebook post from Berlin, where he is attending Saturday’s champions league final, he wrote: Why not? My life has always been in football. It’s a passion I served with seriousness and respect in Brazil and other countries. I was sports minister, I have experience with my club and in helping Kashima in Japan. I put football above politics. Former football star Zico attends a press conference during the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil local organising committee board meeting in March 2014 in Rio de Janeiro.

Photograph: Buda Mendes/FIFA via Getty Images Updated 21:13 The runners and riders for Fifa president Unlike last week’s election , which saw only one candidate – Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein – stand against the incumbent, several would-be presidents are likely to come forward now that Blatter’s rule is finally coming to an end. There’s a handy guide to the candidates here , but these are the names to watch: Michel Platini “He will be good president,” said Blatter of the current head of Uefa three years ago. But the pair, one time close allies, have become estranged. Platini declined to stand against his one-time mentor but instead backed Prince Ali. “It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision,” Platini said of Blatter’s decision to stand down. But Platini’s credentials have been called into question over his enthusiastic backing for Qatar’s World Cup bid. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein The President of the Jordan Football Association and a Fifa vice-president could decide to have another shot at the top job.

Last week he received 73 votes from the 209 members in the first round, enough to force a second round, but conceded defeat to Blatter. Ali was among those who called for the publication of the Garcia report into allegations of corruption surrounding Russia’s and Qatar’s bids for the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups. He hinted he would run again, saying: “I’m always there to serve football. We have to do so much work to fix this organisation. I am at the disposal of our national associations.” Luís Figo The former Portuguese international was in the running to challenge Blatter for the presidency but pulled out eight days before the elections to unify support for Prince Ali. He unveiled his manifesto at Wembley in February but was never more than an outsider. When he pulled out of the race to succeed Blatter, he pulled no punches, saying: “This process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man – something I refuse to go along with” and likened Blatter’s tenure to a “dictatorship”. Luis Figo at the launch of his manifesto in February 2015.

Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images Michael van Praag The Dutchman, like Figo, withdrew his candidacy for the presidency in the run-up to the elections in an effort to get Prince Ali elected. The 66-year-old Uefa ExCo member said when he launched his campaign back in January that he was “very worried about the deteriorating situation at Fifa, the public opinion, the trustworthiness is very bad and with me a lot of people in the world believe so”. It is not yet known whether he will be prepared to stand again. Issa Hayatou The president of the African Football Confederation since 1988, he has been a staunch ally of Blatter . In 2011 he was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee over his part in an alleged bribery scandal. Hayatou was named on a list of recipients of $100m in kickbacks made by the now defunct sports marketing company ISL between 1989 and 1999. He denies any wrong-doing. In 2002 he ran – and lost – against Blatter in the presidential elections.

The 68-year-old Cameroonian would have the support of a huge number of Africa’s member associations and could carry the support of Blatter loyalists. Jérôme Champagne Another Frenchman who withdrew his candidacy for the Fifa presidency last time round. The former Fifa deputy general had secured nominations from three federations but claimed he had to back away from taking on Blatter because others felt unable for “numerous” reasons to support his bid. With Blatter out of the picture, the 56-year-old former diplomat may feel emboldened enough to put himself forward again. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah The Kuwaiti suddenly finds himself in a position of influence at Fifa. Levered into place by Blatter to shore up his support in Asia in the face of the challenge from Prince Ali, he has been tipped as a possible Fifa president by those who will want things to remain much as they are. “He’s done a great job for football,” Sheikh Ahmad said of Blatter on the eve of the election. “Nobody can be perfect, 100%. I think he is brave.” Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, pictured in Bangkok in November 2014.

Photograph: Sakchai Lalit/AP And one who now probably won’t be in the running: Jérôme Valcke The current Fifa general secretary would have been among the favourites to replace him before the events of the last week. The Frenchman, who started working for Fifa in 2003, was released by the organisation from his role as marketing director in 2006 after being found guilty of lying to MasterCard and Visa but returned 10 months later, this time as general secretary. On Tuesday, before Blatter resigned, he was under pressure to explain a letter , proving that he was aware of a $10m payment from South African officials to Jack Warner, described by US investigators as a bribe. Updated 17:11 It’s a complex story: allegations, investigations, indictments – and now the announcement that Blatter, 78, would be stepping down as Fifa president. Our chief sports correspondent Owen Gibson gives some more background about why, after 17 years, as virtual head of state, addicted to the power from ruling football’s top body, he accepted the inevitable and resigned.

Owen’s piece – ‘Blatter finally lets go of Fifa as FBI noose tightens’ is here – and gives some more on “the magnitude of the case being built up by the FBI and the US Justice Department”. US investigators have been co-operating with Swiss prosecutors for months and Blatter is sure to have been in their sights. He must have felt the noose tightening. Updated I spoke too soon! Before I leave you, it’s time for a recap of the day’s events for those just joining the party … Sepp Blatter has announced he will resign as Fifa president Blatter will remain in charge until the new president is elected The Swiss attorney general (says Blatter is not under investigation by Swiss authorities “I am now free from the constraints of an election,” says Blatter. “I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms.

But these are not sufficient.” The election is likely to be held between December and March Prince Ali has hinted he will stand, David Ginola has said he will while Michel Platini is also among the favourites And over to we go to Tim … Updated 14:58 Disbelief seems to be a common theme among the reactions around the world to Blatter’s resignation, and Uruguayan FA president Wilmar Valdez – also the Conmebol vice-president – is no different. “It’s an incomprehensible decision. He was very certain he could continue. It is clear that someone important got to him in the last few hours for him to make a decision of this kind.” Let’s not forget though, it’s the same Valdez that reacted to Luis Suarez’s World Cup ban for biting by saying … It is an excessive decision and there was not enough evidence and I have seen more aggressive incidents recently. It is a severe punishment. I don’t know exactly which arguments they used but it is a tough punishment for Suarez. It’s feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup.

Updated Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA president: Profile of former wedding singer who became football chief - Mirror Online Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA president: Profile of former wedding singer who became football chief After yesterday's surprise announcement, we take a closer look at the man behind the poker face Share Gone and not forgotten: Blatter revealed yesterday he is to stand down Share Get football updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email They say every little girl dreams of a fairytale wedding. Prince Charming, check. White dress, check. Harpist, check. Turtle doves, check. Sepp Blatter crooning a serenade in the corner...? If you thought the FIFA president's propensity for shameless sidestepping and ostrich-like whitewashing was beyond astonishing, it only rivals some of the more bizarre biographical details about the man who yesterday announced he will be stepping down in his role . First and foremost being one of his earliest career moves – as a wedding singer. Unsurprisingly, it's not something he tends to er, sing about.

Currently public enemy number one in most – but critically, far from all – corners of the globe, images of the 79-year-old's bald head are at present unavoidable. But the personal life of the man behind that neatly composed poker face is less well-known. The man behind the mask: Did you know that Blatter used to be a wedding singer? (Photo: Getty) Born in Visp, a remote Swiss Alpine town, his early years weren't in any way paved with the gold he enjoys now. His father worked in a vast chemical plant, barely earning enough to support the family – Joseph 'Sepp', his brothers Peter and Marco, and his late sister, Ruth. It's said a young Blatter shared a bed with Peter into his teens, and would push fruit and vegetables grown in the family's allotment to market in a handcart to earn a few coins to add to the family pot. It might have been that early struggle that instilled in Blatter a persistence that remains fairly apparent today. No matter what else you say about the man, he certainly sticks to his guns...

He perhaps summed himself up best when he once explained: “I am a mountain goat that keeps going and going and going, I cannot be stopped, I just keep going.” We'll see how long that remains the case. ROW ZED: 17 times Blatter was made to look silly Political ally: Vladimir Putin voiced support for Blatter on Thursday (Photo: REUTERS/Alexey Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Files) In fact, Blatter once admitted he even ignored the pleading of his own mother from beyond the grave to give it a rest. In one of his more bizarre revelations, Blatter admitted in 2013 that on a recent return trip to Visp – where his first move is always to visit the grave of his late mother - he “connected” with her at her graveside, and she asked him to join her. His response, apparently, was pretty definite: “I’m doing well, it is not time yet." He seems to be saying it still. The young Blatter was a promising footballer – legend has it he was known as the 'king' of his playground, the rare owner of a professional-quality football - and was offered a contract by Swiss team Lausanne Sport FC.

But unimpressed, his dad told him football 'would not pay'. A lesson there, perhaps, in laying down a challenge to your children... especially the goat-minded ones. Instead, Blatter senior was keen for his children to rise from their humble beginnings by taking an academic route, and pressed them to go to university. They all heeded his advice. After doing his national service in the Swiss military and rising to the rank of colonel, Blatter graduated with a business degree from the University of Lausanne (although he continued playing amateur football keenly into his mid-thirties). Not for turning: A rare expression of concern from Blatter (Photo: Getty) An intelligent student, who now speaks at least four languages, he spent holidays doing menial work at Alpine ski resorts to pay his way. He then tried his hand at sportswriting, before turning to PR and becoming head of publicity for his local tourist board – supplementing his income with wedding singing until his mid twenties. Reports from the lucky recipients of his dulcet tones say he was very good. Then he was scouted and became general secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Association. And his liking for grand titles didn't stop there.

Soon afterwards, he was elected president of the World Society of Friends of Suspenders, too. Yes, this is just what it sounds like: a society for men who prefer stockings to tights. Given his much later comments at FIFA concerning the need for female footballers to “wear tighter shorts and low-cut shirts…to create a more female aesthetic”, we perhaps shouldn't be surprised. Blatter then worked as a departmental director for Swiss watchmaker and sports timing device company, Longines. It was there, involved in the development of timing facilities for the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, he made the contacts he needed to propel him to FIFA. He moved there as technical director in 1975, aged 39, and became general secretary in 1981, an office he held until he was elected president in 1998. Controversial decision: Blatter announces Qatar as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2022 (Photo: Reuters) Meanwhile, as he rose up his unusual career ladder, his moved through women almost as rapidly. His first wife was a local girl, Liliane Biner.

They married and had a daughter, his only child, Corinne, but divorced. From there, his ladies got younger. His second wife was Barbara Kaser, 30 years his junior. She was the daughter of FIFA's former general secretary Helmut Kaser – but neither deterred headstrong Blatter, then a newcomer to the organisation. Kaser was so disturbed he refused to attend their wedding and reportedly wept on the day. In 1981, after taking his daughter, Blatter took his job as general secretary too. The marriage lasted ten years, but eventually Blatter moved on to another lady 30 years his junior, Ilona Boguska, a friend of his daughter's. Their first relationship lasted seven years, before he moved on to 'dolphin therapist' Graziella Bianca, who was to become wife number three. Ilona needn't have worried, however. Their marriage – which irrepressible Blatter tried to personally, and unsuccessfully, persuade Pope John Paul II to allow him to get blessed in church, despite his previous two divorces – was short-lived. View gallery He returned to Ilona, leaving Graziella to lament that her lost love was 'married to football'.

But that relationship too, ended for the second time six years ago, leaving Blatter to concentrate all his energies on FIFA. He's enjoyed the high life since, dodging controversy with all the nimbleness of, you've guessed it, a mountain goat. He's said to earn around £1.7million a year – although his salary remains a secret – plus a six-figure annual 'loyalty bonus'. Stories once emerged of an exorbitant expense account funding a penchant for designer suits and his daughter's limousine bills – although evidence was never found to prosecute. His fortune is said to lie around the eight figure mark. But friends and colleagues have remarked that what matters most to Blatter has always been the irresistible desire to take centre stage, rather than wealth. Suddenly the wedding singing makes more sense... “It's not about the money,” a FIFA executive said once. “What he really craves, more than anything, is recognition...For him, the worst thing is to be ignored.” Be careful what you wish for, Sepp. You're not on the wedding podium now.

poll loading Fifa re-elects Sepp Blatter as president - BBC News Fifa re-elects Sepp Blatter as president 29 May 2015 Close share panel Media captionSepp Blatter reacts to his re-election as president of Fifa Sepp Blatter has been re-elected president of Fifa, football's world governing body, in a vote overshadowed by arrests and corruption allegations. Mr Blatter's rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, had forced a second round of voting but withdrew. In his victory speech, Mr Blatter said: "I am the president now, the president of everybody." Seven top officials were arrested in Switzerland on Wednesday as part of a US prosecution that indicted 14 people. Mr Blatter, 79, has faced calls to resign, including from UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who said in Berlin on Thursday that the Fifa president should quit "the sooner the better" . 'Crushed hopes' But Mr Blatter hailed his victory, thanking all those who voted from him and praising the bravery of his rival, Prince Ali, for withdrawing.

Media captionPrince Ali thanked his "brave" supporters as he announced his decision to withdraw from the contest In a rambling victory speech citing God and Allah, he said: "I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure. "I take the responsibility to bring back Fifa where it should be... Let's go Fifa! Let's go Fifa!" He also hinted that this term in office, his fifth, could be his last, saying: "At the end of my term I will give up Fifa in a strong position." In conceding, Prince Ali said: "It's been a wonderful journey... And I want to thank in particular those of you who were brave enough to support me." Michel Platini, the president of the European football body, Uefa, which had backed Prince Ali, said: "I am proud that Uefa has defended and supported a movement for change at Fifa, change which in my opinion is crucial if this organisation is to regain its credibility." Global citizens' movement Avaaz, which started the #BlatterOut campaign, quickly condemned the re-election.

Analysis: Matthew Kenyon, BBC Sport If you read most of the world's media, Sepp Blatter's ability to hang on to power at Fifa is nothing short of miraculous. After years of negative headlines, the frenzy has reached fever pitch in the wake of the US allegations of corruption - even though Mr Blatter himself has not been implicated. And running through all this is a theme - bemusement that much of the football world keeps voting for him. Nowhere is Sepp Blatter's support stronger than across Asia and Africa. So why do most of the representatives from those two continents appear to be voting for him again? Here's about as succinct an answer as you're going to get - from the president of the Nigerian Football Federation: "Blatter feels Africa. What Blatter pushes is equity, fairness and equality among the nations." We're talking about two things - the first is concrete investment, often literally so. The second is respect. How Fifa spends its money Avaaz campaign director Alex Wilks said: "More dirty dealings in Fifa's halls have crushed the hopes of billions of football fans." But there were congratulations from Russia.

The head of the Russian Football Union, Nikolay Tolstykh told the R-Sport channel Mr Blatter was an "experienced leader" who "understands well the organisation's current problems and sees ways to resolve them". The vote took place at Fifa's congress in Zurich. In the first round Mr Blatter won 133 to Prince Ali's 73, just short of the 140 votes needed for an outright win. Swiss inquiry Those indicted in the US inquiry are accused of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering involving tens of millions of dollars since 1991. The aim of the bribes was to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US, prosecutors say. The seven arrested in Zurich - Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo (both Fifa vice-presidents), Eduardo Li, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Marin, Costas Takkas and Julio Rocha - remain in Swiss detention pending US extradition proceedings.

Image copyright AFP / getty images Image caption The current and former Fifa executives indicted include Rafael Esquivel, Nicolas Leoz, Jeffrey Webb, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li, Eugenio Figueredo and Jose Maria Marin They can appeal against their detention by 8 June, but Swiss justice officials told the Associated Press bail was unlikely. The first of the 14 to be arraigned in a US court, sports executive Aaron Davidson, pleaded not guilty through his lawyer on Friday. Swiss prosecutors have launched a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. Many of Fifa's major sponsors, including Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai Motor and Budweiser, have expressed concern over the investigations. After Mr Blatter was re-elected, Coca-Cola said in a statement that Fifa "must now seize the opportunity to begin winning back the trust it has lost". Greg Dyke, the chairman of the English Football Association, told the BBC : "Sepp Blatter has run this organisation for 16 years, and for all of those 16 years, there have been levels of corruption.

Sepp Blatter is not the man who is going to be able to change that." What do you think about Sepp Blatter's re-election? Are you in any of the regions affected by the Fifa scandal? You can share your views by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk . If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can send your photos and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) number. Alternatively you can send pictures via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971. Or you can upload here .

Question: What nationality is current FIFA President Sepp Blatter ?
Answer: SWISS