For Blatter, for worse

Simon Kuper explains why Fifa president Sepp Blatter was able to survive yet another tidal wave of sleaze allegations and secure re-election last week

Sepp Blatter: re-elected as Fifa president for fifth time, despite allegations of corruption. Picture: Getty
Sepp Blatter: re-elected as Fifa president for fifth time, despite allegations of corruption. Picture: Getty

Someone who worked for Jimmy Carter once told me that when Carter entered the White House, suddenly no one was able to speak truth to him. He stopped meeting ordinary people, and so he lost his sense of what was happening in the US.

I think that happens to most leaders. You’re in this bubble, and you’re always in a ...