What Happened to Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter?

Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter's career at the pinnacle of international football spanned decades, culminating in his presidency of FIFA from 1998 to 2015. His rise began in 1981 when he became FIFA's general secretary, a position he held until succeeding João Havelange as president. During his presidency, Blatter expanded FIFA's global reach, particularly in Africa and Asia, and oversaw the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.

However, Blatter's tenure was increasingly overshadowed by persistent allegations of corruption. The first major wave of scandal broke in May 2015 when U.S. authorities indicted 14 football officials and sports marketing executives on charges of racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering, exposing what prosecutors described as decades of systemic corruption within FIFA. Although Blatter was not initially named in the U.S. indictment, the pressure mounted rapidly. Days after being re-elected for a fifth term, Blatter announced his resignation on June 2, 2015, acknowledging that his mandate was 'not supported by everybody'.

The fallout continued as Swiss authorities launched their own criminal inquiry into Blatter, focusing on a suspicious payment of 2 million Swiss francs made to then-UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011 for work allegedly done between 1999 and 2002. In October 2015, Blatter was suspended from FIFA for 90 days, and in December of that year, FIFA's Ethics Committee banned him from all football activities for eight years, later reduced to six years on appeal. A second six-year ban and a fine of CHF 1,000,000 were imposed in March 2021 following a probe into massive bonus payments.

Despite the bans, Blatter faced further legal challenges. In November 2021, Swiss authorities formally charged Blatter and Platini with fraud and falsifying documents related to the 2 million Swiss franc payment. However, in March 2025, both Blatter and Platini were acquitted of these charges after a second trial, following an appeal by Swiss federal prosecutors.

As of June 2026, Blatter, who turned 90 in March 2026, remains banned from FIFA activities until 2027. Despite his official exclusion, he continues to be a vocal and often critical observer of international football. In January 2026, he urged fans to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, citing concerns over restrictive immigration policies and the treatment of protesters and migrants by the Trump administration. In June 2026, just days before the World Cup kickoff, Blatter again criticized FIFA and the U.S. for denying entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, emphasizing that host nations must guarantee unrestricted entry for all qualified officials. He has also criticized the commercialization of the World Cup, comparing it to a 'slot machine'. His successor, Gianni Infantino, who was re-elected for a third term in March 2023, continues to lead FIFA amidst its own set of challenges and controversies.