In the world of sports, it is no secret that leadership has a direct impact on the performance of an organization. This extends to the international level as well. With that in mind, one might wonder what makes leaders stand out so much in the world of sports. The answer lies in their ability to lead with integrity and confidence while being a strong example for those around them. That is what makes a great leader, not money, fame, or popularity. Therefore, we’ve compiled this list of past FIFA presidents who have stood out as leaders within the sport by their actions and willingness to sacrifice for something greater than themselves. They are men who have led with integrity above all else.
Sepp Blatter
Blatter was born in Switzerland in 1936 and studied economics. He served as the eighth president of FIFA from June 16, 1998, to October 8, 2015. Blatter is the only person to have been elected as the head of FIFA for four terms. Under his presidency, FIFA’s total revenues grew from $890 million in 2002 to almost $5 billion in 2014. Blatter was at the center of several major controversies during his presidency. He was criticized for his handling of the 2010 FIFA World Cup bidding process, his support of the country-wide ban on the hijab in 2011, his decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, his lifting of the ban on the Iranian Football Federation in 2002, and his dealings with the notorious former FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner. Blatter’s career came to an end on October 8, 2015, when he announced his resignation due to the corruption scandal that rocked FIFA in the lead-up to the FIFA presidential election.
Joao Havelange
Havelange was born in Brazil in 1916 and served as the ninth president of FIFA from July 16, 1974, to April 19, 2013. Havelange was an Olympic medalist in swimming in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He would later become the director of the Brazilian Swimming Federation and the President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Havelange’s greatest achievement as the president of FIFA was the growth of the organization from a mere $3.5 million in revenue in 1974 to almost $5 billion in 2011. Havelange’s presidency was tarnished by the corruption scandal that rocked FIFA in 2015, particularly his decision to lift the ban on the Iranian Football Federation in 2002.
Joseph ("Sepp") Blatter
Blatter was born in Switzerland in 1936 and studied economics. He served as the eighth president of FIFA from June 16, 1998, to October 8, 2015. Blatter is the only person to have been elected as the head of FIFA for four terms. Under his presidency, FIFA’s total revenues grew from $890 million in 2002 to almost $5 billion in 2014. Blatter was at the center of several major controversies during his presidency. He was criticized for his handling of the 2010 FIFA World Cup bidding process, his support of the country-wide ban on the hijab in 2011, his decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, his lifting of the ban on the Iranian Football Federation in 2002, and his dealings with the notorious former FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner. Blatter’s career came to an end on October 8, 2015, when he announced his resignation due to the corruption scandal that rocked FIFA in the lead-up to the FIFA presidential election.
Ricardo Teixeira
Teixeira was born in Brazil in 1952 and served as the tenth president of FIFA from June 1, 2002, to July 16, 2012. Teixeira was the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) from 1989 to 2012 and the president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) from 1989 to 2012. During his time as president of both organizations, he was accused of accepting bribes from sports marketing companies in exchange for the rights to host sporting events in Brazil. The arrangement between CBF and CONMEBOL with these companies resulted in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for Brazilian taxpayers.
Michel Platini
Platini was born in France in 1955 and served as the eleventh president of FIFA from July 16, 2012, to February 26, 2016. Platini is the former president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the French Football Federation (FFF). Platini had a long and fruitful career as a player for the French club St. Etienne and the French national soccer team. His most notable achievement as a soccer player came at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain when France finished in third place. After retiring as a player, Platini became the manager of the French national soccer team. Under Platini’s management, France won the FIFA World Cup in 1998. Platini served as the president of UEFA from 2007 to 2015. On February 26, 2016, the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee decided to ban Platini from all football activities for eight years.
Summary
These men are all exceptional leaders in the world of sports. They are men who have led with integrity above all else. They are individuals who have sacrificed their time, energy, and money to see their organizations improve. They have not allowed their egos to get in the way, but have instead chosen to set them aside for the betterment of the sport.
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