Blatter still feels like FIFA President

“I’m still president, but just suspended,” Blatter claimed on Russian state broadcaster RT on Wednesday. The Swiss is banned from all football activities for a total of six years until 2021.

“Not sad, but not happy either” The reason was a dubious million-dollar payment to the former and also banned head of the European Football Union (UEFA), Michel Platini, in 2011. After his ban at the end of 2015, he went through a difficult time, said Blatter. “But I recovered. I'm not sad, but I'm not happy either." The 82-year-old attended the preliminary round game between Portugal and Morocco (1-0) in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday.

Blatter says he is accepting an invitation from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to the tournament in Russia. After his explosive visit to the stands, he quickly returned to his Moscow luxury hotel St. Regis alongside his partner Lina Barras. Before that, Blatter's spokesman confirmed to the German Press Agency that he was not sitting in the presidential box, but rather in the gallery for business guests. The banned former head of the world association was wisely not seen on television.

According to the official FIFA guest list, Gianni Infantino, Blatter's successor as head of the world association, was also in the arena. Whether there would be a reunion at the expensive seats initially remained a secret. Blatter said he also sees the World Cup in Russia as his World Cup. He was still in office when the award was made eight years ago, when he and Putin stood side by side. The Kremlin did not expressly rule out a meeting between Putin and Blatter during his time in Russia. According to the Tass agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized on Wednesday that Blatter was on a private visit to Russia. An official meeting is therefore not planned.

Despite his ban, Blatter is not prohibited from attending a World Cup game according to the current interpretation of the FIFA statutes. The long-time FIFA boss arrived in Moscow on Tuesday evening and wants to watch the duel between record world champions Brazil and Costa Rica in St. Petersburg on Friday.

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Blatter still feels like FIFA President

Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter described himself as head of the world association during his visit to the World Cup in Russia.

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