Roger Federer (L) and Sepp Blatter (R)

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter unexpectedly linked tennis legend Roger Federer to a tax evasion scandal in 2017 involving top-tier figures in football.

Football witnessed a wave of controversies at that time with former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, as well as Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez, being accused of defrauding and facing investigations.

Given that, Blatter, who has been banned from FIFA activities since 2015 due to a corruption case and will remain so till 2027, brought up his countryman Federer’s name during an interview with RTS Sport.

Blatter expressed a sentiment that the football world often faced scrutiny, while ‘untouchable money collectors’ like Federer, along with athletes from sports like the NBA and baseball, seemed to escape similar situations due to their success in maintaining a clean public image.

“why do they attack the football world? No one has said a word about one of the biggest money collectors: Federer,” he said.

“He is untouchable. I am sure he is untouchable because he does everything right. Also baseball and NBA stars are not attacked,” he added.

While it was a bold claim made against Roger Federer, it’s interesting to note that the Swiss tennis legend moved to Wollerau, Switzerland, in 2008 and bought a $6.5 million mansion there six years later. The place is regarded as one of the biggest tax havens in Europe.

Roger Federer was “not a fan of FIFA” run by Sepp Blatter

Roger Federer pictured at the 2023 Laver Cup
In 2015, FIFA was hit by a big corruption scandal. More than two dozen officials were accused of a 24-year scheme to benefit themselves, involving bribery in choosing Russia for the 2018 World Cup and Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.

Notable figures in the sports world, including Roger Federer, expressed discontent with the actions of the governing body. The Swiss, a self-proclaimed soccer fan, revealed his disapproval of FIFA, then led by his compatriot Sepp Blatter the same year.

“I am a football fan, a soccer fan, but I’m not a fan of (Fifa). I love to watch soccer. You know, when you’re a fan, what you want is for things to be done properly in the right way, and it doesn’t seem to be the case,” Federer told the reporters.

“But, you know, I think it’s quite disappointing to see what’s happening today. I think it’s bad in terms of image. I want to simply be a soccer fan. Nothing else,” he added.

Federer hung up his racquet in 2022 after enjoying a career which lasted for more than two decades and saw him win 20 Grand Slam titles, among other achievements. His last professional match came at the Laver Cup, where he partnered with old rival Rafael Nadal to play doubles.