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Sepp Blatter's own goals: Former Fifa president's worst quotes

He might have been the head of Fifa, but Sepp Blatter seems to be fond of scoring own goals, considering some of the statements he's made over the years.

Some notables? He's described himself as a "mountain goat", and declared that he was the "president of everyone" during his victory speech after he was recently re-elected as the president of Fifa.

Here's a selection of the greatest foot-in-mouth hits that he has belted out in the past 17 years. 

1) After he was re-elected to his fifth term last Friday as the president of Fifa:

“I am the president now, the president of everybody.”

2) Just days before he was re-elected, he spoke about his 17-year tenure as Fifa head:

"I am a mountain goat that keeps going and going and going, I cannot be stopped, I just keep going.”

3) In 2004, he said women’s football should consider changes to increase popularity.

“Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball. They could, for example, have tighter shorts."

4) In an interview with BBC in May 2015, he alluded to his kingpin status in women’s football.

“Women’s football is definitely my... baby. I consider myself a little bit, as the godfather of women’s football in Fifa.”

5) When asked in 2010 if he saw any problems for gay fans who wanted to travel to Qatar, a country where homosexuality is illegal, for the 2022 World Cup:

“I’d say they should refrain from any sexual activities.”

6) When England’s Football Association charged then Liverpool footballer, Luis Suarez, with racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011, Blatter had this to say: 

“There is no racism (on the field), but maybe there is a word or gesture that is not correct.

“The one affected by this should say ‘this is a game’ and shake hands.”

7) When Chelsea captain John Terry was sacked as captain of the English team after allegations that he had an extra-marital affair with a former teammate's girl friend :

“Listen, this is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries. If this had happened in, let’s say, Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded.”

8) When allegations of match fixing mired Italy’s top two divisions in 2006, he said:

“I could understand if it had happened in Africa, but not in Italy.”

Blatter said Wednesday morning (June 3) he would step down as Fifa president, an announcement that rocked world football. 

Related reports: 

Blatter steps down as Fifa president
Sepp Blatter's departure: Here are the best memes

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