Sepp Blatter factfile

Have a look at the career of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who always seems to be in the headlines.

Have a look at the career of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who always seems to be in the headlines. 1936: March 10 - Born Joseph Blatter in Visp, Switzerland. 1959: Gains degree in Business Administration and Economics at Lausanne University. 1970: Becomes board member at Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax - a post he holds for five years. 1975: Appointed FIFA technical director. 1981: Appointed FIFA general secretary. 1990: Promoted to FIFA chief executive. 1998: June 8 - Elected FIFA's eighth president, after Lennart Johansson withdraws from contest following first round of voting. 1999: March 12 - Takes legal action to stop new book that alleges corruption during his fight for FIFA presidency. 2001: May 17 - FIFA terminate agreement with ISL/ISMM for broadcasting rights for 2002 and 2006 World Cups after they were declared bankrupt. FIFA, as a result, retain broadcasting rights. Blatter later reveals collapse of ISL will cost FIFA 100million Swiss francs (40million). May 23 - Threatens to sue two German newspapers for alleging he received illegal payments from bankrupt marketing partners ISL. May 28 - FIFA announce legal proceedings have begun against bankrupt media partner ISL. The charges on based on suspicion of fraud, embezzlement and disloyal business management. June 13 - Blatter avoids vote of no confidence at extraordinary meeting. FIFA's executive committee backs embattled president and insists he had undertaken all necessary steps to protect governing body's interests after bankruptcy of ISMM/ISL. Exonerated of liability for any losses felt by FIFA. 2002: February 28 - Blatter's supporters are accused of offering cash incentives to heads of national associations during his successful presidential campaign. March 16 - African football supremo Issa Hayatou of Cameroon confirmed as challenger to Sepp Blatter's presidency. April 12 - FIFA lurch towards open civil war after Blatter suspends internal investigation into alleged financial mismanagement inside football's world governing body. April 24 - Johansson urges investigation into claims that 70million of television money owed to FIFA disappeared during collapse of marketing partners ISL last year. May 27 - Just one day before presidential election, Scotland's FIFA vice-president David Will, who has been leading an investigation into the finances of football's world governing body, claims in a letter to all national associations that FIFA have lost 215million over the last four years and are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. May 29 - Blatter wins election with 139 votes to Hayatou's 56. 2004: January 16 - Urges women footballers to wear skimpier kits to increase interest in the women's game. 2006: March - Expresses his desire to implement a radical proposal that would limit Europe's domestic leagues to a maximum of 16 teams. November - All but rules out the introduction of video replays, saying he would never allow matches to be halted as long as he remained FIFA president. 2007: February 28 - Says England would stand a "very good" chance of hosting the 2018 World Cup - if the tournament returns to Europe in that year. May 31 - Re-elected unopposed as FIFA president for a third term. 2008: May 30 - FIFA vote in favour of the 'six-plus-five rule' which would limit the number of foreign players. Blatter had said earlier in the week that hoped the controversial rule would be in place by the 2012/13 season. July 9 - Says Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid if he so desires, criticising a trend towards "modern slavery" in football. 2010: October - Admits the bribery scandal had a "very negative impact" on FIFA. 2011: May 27 - FIFA announce they have opened "ethics proceedings" against Blatter. May 29 - FIFA's ethics committee suspend Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner amid bribery allegations but decide "no investigation is warranted" into Blatter. June 1 - Re-elected as FIFA president for another four years. November 16 - Provokes widespread outrage when he claims racist abuse between players on the pitch should be settled by a handshake. Later that day he says his comments were misunderstood.