FIFA has 209 federations and each has an equal vote. Mr. Blatter, 79, continues a 40-year career with FIFA. Blatter has been working at FIFA first as technical director (1975–1981), then general secretary (1981–1998. He was first elected President of FIFA on 8 June 1998. Under his watch, FIFA has overseen considerable growth in soccer’s popularity and has drastically increased its commitment to women’s soccer, youth soccer and aid for developing countries through sports. The FIFA president oversees a global organization with billions in revenue. Blatter’s win comes two days after nine current and former high-ranking FIFA officials were arrested on corruption charges in a dramatic early morning raid in Zurich.
