Made Man: Sepp Blatter Reelected FIFA President Despite Expanding Corruption Scandal and Arrests

In the ultimate signal from the FIFA leadership that it cares little about corruption or public opinion or even criminal prosecution, Sepp Blatter, 79, was reelected as FIFA’s president for a fifth term by the world governing body’s 209 member associations. FIFA officials are still be processed as arrestees in the corruption investigation in the United States, but that was not a barrier to Blatter who has been accused for years of ignoring and even encouraging corruption in the organization.

In perhaps the greatest indictment, Vladimir Putin (who is widely viewed as running an equally corrupt and authoritarian country) denounced the U.S. investigation as meddling in FIFA. The successful Russian bid for a future World Cup is being criticized as a highly suspect effort by anti-corruption advocates.

Swiss authorities swooped into a hotel Wednesday and arrested some of the top soccer officers on corruption charges in the United States. The police notably went to one of the most expensive hotels in the world where these officials were treating themselves to another gold-plated over-the-top meeting with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich. They were led from the five-star hotel in an early morning raid, but many will be disappointed that one official remained in his luxury hotel room untouched: Sepp Blatter.

Live Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president after Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein conceded defeat. Blatter secured 133 votes to Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein’s 73 in the first round of voting. That’s right, 133 members wanted Blatter to continue his corruption-laden tenure. Why? The answer is even more troubling than the scandal. He was reelected precisely because he represents the status quo corruption. He is the ultimate made man being maintained by other made men in FIFA.

This vote and FIFA is an utter disgrace.