Joseph Blatter on FIFA: “I created a monster”

Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter criticized the current state of the organization.

“My predecessor Havelange told me after the World Cup in South Africa, where FIFA made its first real money, that I created a monster. He was right. I really created a monster. FIFA was poor when I started working there in 1975 as a director of development programs. Sponsors like adidas didn’t pay money, they just donated balls and jerseys. The first sponsorship deal that actually brought money was with Coca-Cola in 1976.

Then public television emerged, which suddenly allowed advertising. Football became a super product for television, a super show that could be sold for big money. The first World Cup that actually brought real money was the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. When Infantino became president in 2016, he found himself in a cozy nest, the money machine was running. Now he is revving it up more and more. We are witnessing the fire sale of football,” Blatter is quoted by Watson.