“Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.” In Sepp Blatter’s case nothing, I repeat nothing can vanquish him.

Sepp Blatter is now set for his 5th term as FIFA president as his most serious challenger Michel Platini decided not to run. Blatter is arguably the world’s most influential man. FIFA outranks the UN in the number of member states: 209 to 193. UEFA as a block were opposed but the other five regional confederations were in Blatter’s pocket. He’s been protected over the years by the oil rich ME lobby, Jack Warner and his Caribbean cabal, and Joao Havelange style South American potentates. Greasing their palms and awarding World Cups is the payout.

As for Platini, he’s biding his time. He’s a Eurocentric, and strictly speaking western Eurocentric, which makes him unpopular to the other regional groups but with the flak the Russian and Qatar World Cups are attracting, could put him in a very favourable position for the presidency in four years.