Joseph Blatter, known as the football world's indestructible man, had served as FIFA's secretary general since 1981. After being elected FIFA president in 1998, he had remained an evergreen figure in international football.
Some people even called him a dictator behind his back.
As a veteran who had spent his entire life in international football, Blatter understood better than anyone how this game was supposed to be played.
In 2007, when Platini defeated Johansson and was elected UEFA president, many people said that he had inherited Blatter's true teachings.
They were like master and disciple. Platini had studied under Blatter, but after taking charge of UEFA, he had faintly begun to challenge Blatter. There were even reports that Platini intended to run for FIFA president in the future.
That was exactly what all of Europe's major football powers wanted to see.
FIFA had more than two hundred member associations. There were global powers like China and the United States, developed and wealthy countries like Germany, Britain, and France, but there were also impoverished African nations like Uganda.
This organization operated on democracy and votes. Great and small nations, rich and poor countries, were all equal before FIFA, and everyone held one precious vote in their hands.
This created a very interesting situation. The numerous small and poor countries had few demands. Their football standards were low, and their economic conditions were poor. They had little need for anything at all. They had neither leagues nor any desire to host the World Cup, and some did not even have the will or funds to develop football.
Yet they possessed one precious vote.
In Europe, however, powerful and wealthy countries like Britain, France, Germany, and Spain had the world's top leagues. They constantly opened up markets around the world, expanded their