Sign up to get Today’s Best Cartoons in your inbox
Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of
The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Sepp Blatter – a controversial career in quotes
From gay sports fans to racism in football, no subject has ever been out of bounds for Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter has refused to accept responsibility for the corruption scandal that has engulfed Fifa this week and is standing for a fifth term as president despite mounting pressure for him to resign.
The 79-year-old Swiss, who has run the organisation for 17 years, has long been a controversial figure. Here are some of his most notorious quotes.
“Corruption, racism, betting, and doping. These are the major problems we face and thus on my initiative [Fifa will]… actively seek solutions to these challenges."In the same interview with Liverpool FC
"Fifa cannot sit by and see greed rule the football world. Nor shall we."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
"I would say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities."
- Blatter made the comment in 2010 when asked what gay fans should do at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal
"Say something ladies, you are always speaking at home, now you can speak here!"
Sign up to get Today’s Best Cartoons in your inbox
Funniest, thought-provoking editorial cartoons, delivered each weekday
- Blatter addressing first two female members of the Fifa executive committee in 2013
"What I am most proud of is the legacy of hope that Fifa and football leaves around the world. It makes all of the efforts and energy I pour into this job worth it."
- Blatter in an interview with Liverpool FC's website in 2006
"Corruption, racism, betting, and doping. These are the major problems we face and thus on my initiative [Fifa will]… actively seek solutions to these challenges."
- In the same interview with Liverpool FC
"If this had happened in let's say Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded."
- Blatter in 2010 on John Terry's alleged relationship with team mate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend.
"I consider myself a little bit as a godfather of the organisation of women's football in Fifa," - Sepp Blatter 2015
"Let the women play in more feminine clothes, they could for example play in tighter shorts." - Sepp Blatter 2004
"I am a mountain goat who keeps going and going and going, I cannot be stopped, I just keep going".
- Blatter on not stepping down as Fifa President in 2015
