Joseph "Sepp" Blatter (born 10 March 1936) is a Swiss football administrator who has served as the eighth president of FIFA (the Fédération Internationale de Football Association) since June 1998.From a background in business, public relations, and Swiss and international sports administration, Blatter became general secretary of FIFA in 1981 and served in that role until he was elected president at the 51st FIFA Congress on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange, who had headed the organization since 1974.