Sepp Blatter in quotes: From mountain goats to tighter shorts

Sepp Blatter in quotes: From mountain goats to tighter shorts

"I am the president now, the president of everybody," said Sepp Blatter after winning a fifth term as head of Fifa.

Yet that was far from the strangest thing he has said during his 17-year stint as president.

Blatter's reign at the top of world football's governing body has been marked by controversy - and his re-election has come with Fifa embroiled in corruption allegations.

The 79-year-old, though, has never been shy to air his views, as BBC Sport investigates by looking back at some of his most notable comments.

'Let women play in tighter shorts'

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

"Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men - such as playing with a lighter ball.

"That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?"

Blatter's suggestion for increasing the popularity of women's football,January 2004

'I could understand if match-fixing had happened in Africa'

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

Blatter, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport in March 2006  as a match-fixing scandal came to light in Italy's top two divisions.

'Some countries would have applauded Terry'

John Terry was replaced as England captain by Rio Ferdinand in 2010

"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."

Blatter tells the Press Association in February 2010  that John Terry should not have been sacked as England captain amid allegations - subsequently revealed to be untrue - of an extramarital affair.

'Gay fans in Qatar should refrain from sex'

"I'd say they should refrain from any sexual activities."

Blatter, asked in December 2010 if he foresaw any problems for gay fans travelling to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.

'On-field racism can be resolved with a handshake'

Luis Suarez, then with Liverpool, received an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra

"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."

Blatter, speaking to CNN in November 2011, after the Football Association charged Luis Suarez with racially abusing Patrice Evra during a Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United. The Fifa president later said his comments had been misunderstood.

'You always speak at home'

Former Burundi FA president Lydia Nsekera was the first woman elected to Fifa's executive committee in 2013

"Say something, ladies. You are always speaking at home, now you can speak here."

Blatter addresses the Fifa Congress in Mauritius as the first woman is appointed to its executive committee in May 2013. 

'Uefa want to get rid of me'

"They want to get rid of me. All this opposition is coming now, it's unfortunate to say it, it's coming from Nyon, from Uefa. They don't have the courage to come in. So let me go [on] -- be respectful!

Blatter tells CNN in January 2015  that he believes Uefa is behind a campaign to remove him from the presidency.

'I am the godfather of 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."

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'I am a mountain goat'

A mountain goat typically lives for 12 to 15 years in the wild - Blatter has been Fifa president for 17 years

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

Blatter explains the secret of his longevity  to Swiss newspaper NZZ a few days before he is re-elected for a fifth term.

'Timing of arrests is questionable'

"It's not good for all this to emerge just two days before the Fifa presidential elections.

"I'm not going to use the word coincidence, but I do have a small question mark."

Blatter's reaction  at the Fifa Congress on Thursday after seven officials were arrested on charges of receiving bribes.

'I forgive, but I don't forget'

Uefa president Michel Platini supported Blatter's rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein

"I forgive everyone but I don't forget. We cannot live without Uefa and Uefa cannot live without us."

Blatter's response to Swiss television on Friday,  after Uefa president Michel Platini refused to rule out a World Cup boycott in the event of his Fifa counterpart's re-election.