In 2010, the footballing community was shouting about corruption. FIFA had just awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Something didn’t sound quite right… In this groundbreaking episode, Simon and Mehreen cover not only the life and corruption of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, but also paint a picture of the geopolitical changes in global football and the rising power shifts from the West to the East. The podcast features clips from an exclusive interview with Sepp Blatter himself, who candidly reveals details of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meetings with Qatar and French President Nicholas Sarkozy, and FIFA officials’ roles in the Qatari corruption scandal. This is a story of power, money, and corruption—akin to a mafia movie or Hollywood biopic. You won’t want to miss it. Time stamps: 00:26: Introduction 03:54: Growing up in Switzerland 08:02: Coca Cola gets Blatter into FIFA 13:32: From bureaucrat to the biggest job at FIFA 19:57: Turning a blind eye or encouraging corruption? 24:58: Simon’s run-in with Blatter (and missing out on a spa day) 34:49: Qatari official meets the French President 37:59: Russia and Qatar win the World Cup bid 45:04: Chuck Blazer blows the whistle 49:37: A farcical election and questions of conviction 57:36: A lonely 80s of court cases, irrelevance, and attempt to stop the Ukraine War 01:00:22: What is Sepp Blatter’s legacy? Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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