Sepp Blatter has shocked the world of football by standing down as Fifa President. We look at how he rose to power and the controversies which damaged his reputation.

Sepp Blatter was born in Visp, Canton Valais, Switzerland and studied at the University of Lausanne in 1959 where he obtained a degree in business and economics.

1958-1970 Blatter spent his years prior to football in various posts such as head of public relations of the Valaisan Tourist Board in Switzerland. He was also general secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation. He was also director of sports timing and relations of watch manufacturer Longines.

1970-1975 Blapper was involved in the organisation of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany and the 1976 Games held in Montreal.

1975 Blatter joins Fifa, initially as technical director.

1981 Blatter is appointed general secretary of Fifa – a position he holds until 1998.

8 June 1998 Blatter is elected as Fifa President on 8 June 1998, succeeding Joao Havelange at the 51st Congress. Lennart Johansson had been considered the favourite but the first round of voting did not produce a clear winner. Blatter received 111 votes to Johansson’s 80, but Johansson conceded victory.

2002 election Blatter’s candidacy is marked with rumours of financial irregularities and backroom dealings – culminating with direct accusations of bribery with claims that the Somali Football Federation and Confederation of African Football were both offered $100,000 to vote for Blatter in 1998.

2004 Blatter is labelled sexist after saying that women footballers should play in “tighter shorts”. These were his actual words: “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."

2006 World Cup Blatter lambasts referee Valentin Ivanov for issuing 16 yellow cards and four red cards during Portugual’s second-round clash with Holland. Blatter said the ref should’ve given himself a yellow card for his performance. He offered to apologise for his outspoken words, but never did so.

July 2008 Blatter said of Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer saga from Manchester United to Real Madrid: “I think in football, there's too much modern slavery, in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere."

February 2010 Blatter said of John Terry’s alleged affair with a Chelsea team-mate’s wife. “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.”

Awarding of 2018 World Cup – December 2010 Blatter calls England “bad losers” after losing out to Russia in their bid to stage the 2018 World Cup after receiving just two votes.

Awarding of 2022 World Cup Blatter reveals Qatar will controversially stage the 2022 World Cup. Due to the searing conditions, question marks are immediately raised over the players’ and fans’ wellbeing. The illegality of homosexuality also causes Blatter to joke that “I would say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities”.Blatter also unleashes a tirade against the “racist” British media and what he branded a ploy to “destroy” Fifa after further evidence emerges over alleged corruption in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

2011 Fifa presidential election Blatter’s main rival to steal his crown, Mohammed bin Hammam withdraws from the presidential race just before the vote over allegations he offered $40,000 in bribes to Caribbean delegates in return for supporting his campaign. The Fifa ethics committee investigating bribery claims against Bin Hammam and CONFACAF president Jack Warner announce Blatter will not face an investigation into claims he knew of the bribery and did nothing about it.With there being no other nominations, Blatter runs opposed and is re-elected for a fourth term, winning 186 of the 203 votes.

2012 In April the Council of Europe publish a report which states that it would be “difficult to imagine” that Blatter would have been unaware of “significant sums” paid to unnamed Fifa officials by ISSM/ISL in connection with lucrative contracts for World Cup television rights.

2013 Fifa Ethics Committee Investigation On 29 April, 2013 Fifa's Ethics Committee concludes its investigation into allegations of illegal payments to Fifa officials from the organisation’s former marketing partner ISL which went bankrupt in 2001 and publishes its report. Blatter is cleared of any misconduct but his predecessor Joao Havelange resigns as Fifa’s honorary president over his part in the scandal.

27 May 2015 Fourteen Fifa exeutives and officials are arrested over “rampant and systemic” corruption allegations in the lead up to the 65th Fifa Congress in Zurich. Blatter is not one of those arrested, but there are numerous calls for him to quit, including from Uefa president Michel Platini.

29 May 2015 Blatter goes ahead with the presidential election and wins a fifth consecutive term. Blatter received 133 votes to his opponent Prince Ali bin Hussein’s 73. Prince Ali withdraws before a second round of voting is called. He says in his winning speech that the Fifa committee needs “ladies” and ends by chanting “Let’s go, Fifa”.