FIFA more like Robin Hood than 'evil' Sheriff of Nottingham of football, says Blatter

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has claimed that the world football governing body has been portrayed as the villainous 'Sheriff of Nottingham' of football, when 'hero' Robin Hood would have been a much more appropriate comparison.

The past 15 years of Blatter reign has seen football becoming repeatedly the subject of corruption scandals and claims of partiality to 'friends', with Blatter himself courting trouble over his stance on homosexuality, women footballers and most recently, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

According to The Independent, the FIFA president talked of his troubled birth and first days to an audience of undergraduates before launching into an analysis of his public image, saying that he has been unfairly portrayed as a ruthless parasite, 'Godfather of the FIFA gravy train' and 'heartless schmoozer'.

Stating that he does not have a 'heart of stone' not to be hurt by those references, Blatter also said that the fans might have been led to believe that FIFA is the evil Sheriff of Nottingham of football and a Bond villain to 'exploit the unfortunate and the weak', when in truth, they are rather like the Robin Hood of football.

Blatter further said that he has gone on to become 'a servant' of the 'beautiful' game by 'breaking down barriers and bringing people together through football', adding that this is what FIFA and he has been doing in reality for football and for the world.