Sepp Blatter

Blatter blasts Infantino over lack of respect

London - Arab Today

Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter accused his successor Gianni Infantino of showing a lack of respect for him in an interview with the BBC. The 80-year-old -- who on Monday lost his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a six year ban from football for a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) paymentRead more

Sepp Blatter mounts final FIFA ban appeal

Lausanne - Arab Today

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter began his final appeal Thursday against his six-year ban from football, in a long-shot quest for redemption after his career ended in scandal. Blatter entered the world's top sports court for a one-day hearing seeking to overturn a suspension imposed by FIFA over ethics violations. "I will accept the verdict," Blatter, 80, told journalists outsideRead more

Blatter in last fight against FIFA ban

Geneva - Arab Today

Sepp Blatter will mount his final challenge against his six-year FIFA ban on Thursday, following more than a year of scandal that saw him thrown out of football in disgrace. The former FIFA boss has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) seeking to overturn a suspension imposed by world football's governing body. "I'm very confident," the 80-year-oldRead more

'Ominous' signs in FIFA's leaders' pay deals

Zurich - Arab Today

Sitting on the top of a mountain of football cash, Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner unilaterally awarded themselves bonuses and contracts worth millions of dollars. Details of a FIFA investigation revealed on Friday that the trio, who formed the pinnacle of the FIFA power pyramid, plotted "to enrich themselves" and ensure a comfortable future in case theyRead more

Raid on FIFA amid new revelations on Blatter payments

Zurich - Arab Today

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and two of his deputies awarded themselves more than $80 million in often suspicious payments over the past five years, FIFA said Friday, after Swiss investigators raided the headquarters of football's governing body. On a day that FIFA also had to deny media reports that new president Gianni Infantino was under investigation, it said Blatter,Read more

Blatter 'available to defend FIFA' at US corruption trial

Basel - Arab Today

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter told AFP Friday he "is available" to appear as a witness at a United States trial into mass corruption in world football. "Yes. When they need me to defend FIFA, I will be available," Blatter said, when asked if he would be prepared to attend the trial into the sweeping bribery scandal that has sparkedRead more

How Blatter's salary compares to other sporting figures

Paris - Arab Today

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter's salary was revealed by football's governing body on Thursday. Here is how it compares to some others from the world of sport. Sporting salaries (including bonuses and endorsements) in 2015: Sepp Blatter - $3.6 million (3.2 million euros) Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner) - $34 million (30 million euros) David Stern (former NBA Commissioner) - $20Read more

Wanda becomes top sponsor for post-Blatter era FIFA

Zurich - Arab Today

China's Wanda group on Friday became the first top level sponsor for FIFA as world football seeks to renew its scandal-tainted image after the departure of Sepp Blatter. A FIFA statement said Wanda, owned by China's richest man Wang Jianlin, would have "the highest level of sponsorship rights" for the next four World Cups. It did not give a figureRead more

France seizes documents tied to suspect Blatter-Platini payment

Lausanne - Arab Today

French authorities have seized documents from the country’s football federation in connection with a Swiss probe into the suspect payment former FIFA president Sepp Blatter made to Michel Platini, officials said Wednesday. The search was conducted Tuesday — two days before Blatter’s 80th birthday — with Swiss officials present while French investigators searched the French Football Federation (FFF) headquarters inRead more

Voting starts in FIFA election to pick Blatter's replacement

Zurich - Arab Today

Soccer leaders have started voting in Friday's election for a new FIFA president, with Asian confederation head Sheikh Salman of Bahrain the favorite to succeed Sepp Blatter, The Daily Mail reported on Friday. Four candidates are in the contest after South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale withdrew at the end of a lively, funny and unscripted speech to the 207 eligibleRead more