Biography of Joseph Blatter

With his hands on the ball

March 10, 1936 Joseph Benjamin 10 March 1936 in Visp Blatter was born in the Canton of Valais, in Switzerland. After studying at Saint Moritz, he graduated in economics at HEC Lausanne business school, that is directly affiliated with the University of Lausanne in 1959. Then enter the world of work, first as Chief of public relations of the tourist office, and later as General Secretary of the Swiss ice hockey Federation. Hired at Longines with leadership roles, is involved in the Organization of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany (those sadly remembered for the so-called "Munich Massacre"), and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada.

Blatter at FIFA

In 1977 enters the Fifa (Federation Internationale de Football Association), the World Football Association until 1981 's Technical Director, and later received a Commission as Secretary. During this period, pushing the amendment of several rules related to football: for example, the abolition of the possibility for goalkeepers to receive with your hands the ball following a back pass from a team-soccer player (solution that is adopted since July of 1992); or, the introduction of three points for a win, with the news that United States 1994 FIFA World Cup debut and is subsequently extended to all competitions. Both these measures are intended to make matches more spectacular and lead teams to be more offensive: by awarding two points for a win, the difference between success and draw was by one point, and this was very often the teams to settle for a draw. Joseph Blatter maintains as Secretary until 1998, when he was elected Fifa President in succession to Brazilian Joao Havelange: his nomination, he defeated Uefa President Lennart Johansson, is however accepted amongst much controversy. In 1999 Sepp (this is his nickname) joined the International Olympic Committee, while the Fifa like the numerous new: for example, the introduction of the Golden Goal during extra time of matches, by which in extra time the team that scores first WINS, without having to wait for the conclusion of the two times; and, later, replacing the Golden Goal with the Silver Goal, whereby in case the range of extra time either team is ahead, the game ends.

The new elections and the suspicions of cheating politicians

In 2002 the Swiss leader you are standing for the Presidency of Fifa, and this time he is surrounded by rumors about gerrymandering in ratings and financial irregularities, with Farra Ado-President of the Federation of Somalia and Vice-President of the African Football Confederation-who is revealed to have received an offer of $ 100,000 to give his vote for Blatter in the 1998 elections. At the same time, the President-in-Office also in the eye of the storm ends because of Jack Warner, former Secretary of Concacaf and former Vice-President of Fifa, which claims to have favored in the past, the appointment of Joseph Blatter in Exchange for tv rights for the World Cup France ' 98, paying a dollar. Despite these allegations, the Swiss Executive is reconfirmed as head of Fifa. After being named-in 2004-Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in France and-in 2005-Commander of the national order of 27 June in Djibouti, in 2006 he received the honorary membership card from Real Madrid. Starting from this year, among other things, Fifa stipulates the entry into force of the next edition of the rule of non-automatic qualifier for the National Championships winning the World Championships. Also in 2006, the year he received the Grand Cross of the order of merit of Germany, Blatter is subject to charges for not having attended the award ceremonies of the two World Finals (one for third place and the one for first place) in Germany. Shortly thereafter, declare that the Italy, winner of the World Championships, did not deserve the success because she qualified only by virtue of a penalty very doubtful granted during the match against Australia. In 2008 receives the Grand decoration of honour in Silver order of merit of the Republic of Austria, and a year later he was made a Knight of the order of the rising sun in Japan. In June 2011 was elected Fifa President for the fourth time. In the spring of 2015, a few days before new elections-as expected-they should enshrine his fifth presidency of the Federation, is run over by a judicial inquiry which, while not seeing him directly investigated, leading to the arrest of many of his co-workers in the Fifa. The scandal is also global because the investigation is directly involved the FBI, and in the viewfinder end 2018 World Cup assignments to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Blatter is re-elected. A few days later, however, with the continuation of investigation, decides to resign.

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