Swiss authorities have opened criminal proceedings against Sepp Blatter on suspicion of misapproriating funds and violating his duties as the head of world football's governing body.
* 1936 - Born in Visp, Switzerland.
* 1948-1971 - Player in Swiss amateur league.
* 1956 - Becomes member of Swiss Association of Sportswriters.
* 1959-1964 - Public relations official for tourism in the canton of Valais.
* 1964-1966 - Secretary general, Swiss Ice Hockey Federation.
* 1968-1975 - Director at watch company Longines S.A.
* 1975-1981 - FIFA technical director.
* 1981-1998 - FIFA general secretary.
* 1998 - Elected FIFA president.
* 2002 - Blatter accused of financial mismanagement by FIFA executive committee members. Criminal complaint filed against Blatter with Swiss prosecutors comes to nothing after Blatter is re-elected by beating Issa Hayatou of Cameroon in a vote.
* 2007 - Re-elected unopposed.
* 2011 - Re-elected unopposed after challenger Mohamed bin Hammam, a former ally, withdrew before being suspended by FIFA over bribery allegations.
* May 29, 2015 - Re-elected for fifth term by beating Prince Ali bin al-Hussein after reneging on pledge not to stand again.
* June 2 - Announces resignation plans as pressure mounts over escalating criminal investigations.
* July 20 - Exit date set for Feb. 26 when the presidential election is due to be held.
* July 24 - Uses in-house FIFA magazine to say the governing body will support U.S. and Swiss investigations "no matter how close to home those investigations get."
* July 25 - Interrogated by Swiss federal police over alleged criminal use of FIFA money as office is searched and data is seized.
