Sepp Blatter’s Controversial Critiques Ignite Outrage!

At 89, Sepp Blatter is back in the news. The former FIFA president is leveraging the upcoming World Cup draw, scheduled for this Friday at 6 PM IST, to give an extensive interview to The Telegraph. In it, he criticizes notable figures involved in the upcoming tournaments, including Donald Trump, Mohammed bin Salman, Gianni Infantino, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Blatter, who is gradually fading into obscurity—a fate he refuses to accept—expresses hope for a return to the presidency of FIFA after his suspension ends in 2027. “I was never removed from FIFA. When I was suspended by the ethics committee, I just handed my mandate to someone else. But I still hold that mandate. I am still the elected president,” the Swiss national claims, noting that he will turn 91 in two years and “I hope to still be alive.” His comebacks may seem almost desperate, but Blatter remains a colorful figure. He was FIFA president for 17 years until his forced exit in 2015 and has strong words for his successor, Gianni Infantino, criticizing the idea of a 48-team World Cup and the plan to host the 2030 tournament in five countries. “He is in another dimension. I believe he thinks he is already planning football in the stratosphere,” he says. Blatter suggests that Infantino played a role in his downfall by directing FBI investigators in their inquiries, while behaving like a dictator within football. “Football is a wonderful game, social, cultural – and maybe economic – but it is universal. It’s the most popular sport in the world. Now, it seems like politicians—on one side the Saudis, and on the other, the Americans—are trying to take over,” he adds.

Blatter also criticizes Donald Trump for being set to receive a peace prize from FIFA. “They shouldn’t award this prize. Football shouldn’t be giving out a peace prize. I think it’s a mistake,” he states, reflecting on his past aspiration for the Nobel Peace Prize while leading FIFA. “As for my successor, I am not sure whether it’s Trump or Infantino. It seems like a matter of personal relationships, particularly with Trump. I’m uncertain about the World Cup trophy’s current location, which has always been securely kept in Zurich until the opening of each tournament. I doubt it; maybe it’s already at the White House,” he alleges, expressing skepticism about Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence in football, calling it a “danger.” He asserts that the Saudis are now the decision-makers in football, funding every new idea proposed by the president. Lastly, Blatter lobbed a final jab at FIFA for supposedly giving Cristiano Ronaldo preferential treatment by allowing him a mere one-match suspension after his outburst against Ireland, while the regulations suggested a three-match ban. “This is an unacceptable principle,” he declares, lamenting a decision that favors one of football’s biggest stars over the rules. “Presidential decisions shouldn’t come from personal initiative. It’s not up to me to always point out that it’s wrong; many people understand that it is,” he concludes. The message is clear.