Switzerland is a country known for its tranquility, and its citizens as one of the most law-abiding in the world. How a person from such an enviable background can sit as the general secretary of FIFA for 17 years as President Joao Havelange's long-time lackey, and desire disdainfully to hold on to the post of president beyond 17 years defies the principles of morality.

Joseph S. "Sepp" Blatter and the authoritarian approach of his seven predecessors belie the practice of democracy, which the world of footballing authority demands most stringently from each of its over 200 member countries. For instance, in June 2014, Nigeria was suspended by FIFA following direct government interference in the running of the game in the country. In August FIFA warned that the African nation risked being banned if an "elected" executive committee did not give up the office of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Bah! Blatter bah!

Over the last 111 years, since 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (said in French to add just the flair needed to divert one's attention from the dark corridors of corruption) has had only eight presidents including Jules Rimet (in office for 33 years from 1921-1954). Don't you get bored sitting on the same chair? The same room? Okay, you get to change secretaries every two to three years. I would not blame the ladies of getting tired of your officiousness, and move.

After a heroic and impudent win in the 2015 elections (29 May), to saddle the seat of presidency for a fifth straight term (not an Arab nor African nation this), on June 2 Blatter declared that he would resign from soccer's governing body amid "a widening corruption scandal" and a promise "to call for fresh elections to choose a successor". We hope not for another 17 years.

He was elected with a handsome majority at the FIFA Congress only two days after serious corruption charges, leveled by the USA, saw seven soccer officials arrested by Swiss police in a dawn raid from a Zurich hotel, events declared as dubious (not verbatim) by a man who is in the FIFA echelons since 1975. None of today's World Cup or Asia Cup or Africa Cup or UEFA Champions League or Bangbandhu Cup players were even born then.

Having never played competitive soccer and being a former general secretary of Swiss Ice Hockey (hah!) said Blatter in his victory speech, "I like you, I like my job and I like to be with you. I'm not perfect, nobody's perfect." Four days later he was proven right.

Did Blatter resign after being re-elected because Europe threatened to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia? Why does president Putin also smell a rat? Will the Russian World Cup be held? What about Qatar in 2022? Why did 133 countries out of 209 (that's only 76 'No' votes) give Blatter the thumbs up despite the unfolding of FIFA's greatest crisis ever? Why did it take over two decades to unveil a $150 million corruption scandal? That is almost Tk 1200 crore. We are lucky that teenagers who play football do not follow the news.

Ironically, the charges against the seven and two more senior FIFA officials were read out by US attorney general Loretta Lynch (pun inherent). The nine and 25 unnamed co-conspirators mentioned in the indictment acquired millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks in a 24-year scheme through illegal sale of TV rights,and peddling of votes for the right to hold the World Cup and other tournaments as well as for winning posts in the committee. It is a clear case of red card and suspension for life.

The case is already partly proven. The disgraced trail was set ablaze in 2013 when former FIFA executive Chuck Blazer and three other people pleaded guilty, and Blazer forfeited USD $1.9 million (phew, although peanuts!); Blazer was wearing two coats (pun intended) and took part in FBI's undercover investigation. As mounting evidence against Blatter and the men on his platter, Swiss police have also seized "electronic data and documents" at FIFA's Zurich head office.

The football doyens arrested in Zurich include Venezuelan soccer president, former Brazil federation president, Costa Rican federation president, Uruguayan federation president, Caribbean football union president, and Cayman Islands association president. They have a tough battle ahead in fighting extradition to the States. And you dare call Bangladesh the second, third, whatever most corrupt nation. Mind it!

Long-term holding on to a position – sports, corporate or government – can only spell the fate of Blatter: defiant, arrogant, unethical (ignorance cannot be bliss, Sepp), despotic, and old age. If a person is considered unsuitable to carry out routine office work beyond 60-65 years, how can the world rest in peace (that is what FIFA is doing today) with the affairs of over 200 countries and over 250 million players in the hands of a 79-year old?

Is it possible that football officials are only corrupt at FIFA? There are TV rights to be won in every country. There are positions sought aggressively in every federation. Perhaps there is a little FIFA in every nook and corner where a child is kicking a ball. The prudent can think of kicking more than one.

The writer is a practising Architect at BashaBari Ltd., a Commonwealth Scholar and a Fellow, a Baden-Powell Fellow Scout Leader, and a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow-cum-Benefactor Rotarian