Sepp Blatter is the consummate football politician, a man with the easy charm of a game show host and a razor-sharp understanding of his sport's backroom dealings.

Several times over the past two years he has been close to being forced to resign, only to wriggle free and emerge in an even stronger position than before.

He became Fifa president in 1998 after a bitter battle with Uefa's president Lennart Johansson, a struggle which continues to this day.

The collapse of the marketing company Blatter had hired to oversee the next two World Cups, ISL, was thought to be likely to cost him his job.

ISL's bankruptcy lost Fifa �40m, and criminal charges against members of the company were quickly followed by the cancellation of the World Club Championship - a competition dubbed 'Blatter's baby'.

But Blatter survived after making a typically rousing speech, promising a public audit of Fifa's books.

He is now hoping to be re-elected president at this year's conference, in Seoul on 28-29 May.

Blatter is a shrewd manipulator of opinion, and his original election came in large part thanks to the votes of the African federations after he promised a World Cup to the continent.

He said last year he would like to see beer and sandwiches banned from football grounds in order to keep the stands clean.

"I have never seen in a theatre or at the opera that people had a beer or a sandwich," he said. "We shouldn't have beer on the terraces or in the stands."

The brewers who have signed up as sponsors of the World Cup finals were not amused.

Blatter also kicked up a diplomatic storm when he called on the government of South Korea to ban the eating of dogs during this summer's World Cup.

But, so far at least, all these problems and more have failed to bring him down.

Dedication to football

A gifted orator, his skill in working an audience is so great that he left that crisis meeting in Argentina last summer to a standing ovation.

"My dedication to football is total - not just from my legs but from my heart," he has claimed.

"You could say my fianc�e is the 98-year-old woman called Fifa.

"I have worked hard. I have not always been successful, but only those who don't work never commit errors."

Last year, he answered his critics with the following words: "Tell me what I've done wrong.

"Why should I prove my innocence? Those who are making these accusations should finally provide some evidence.

"They will find no evidence, because I'm totally innocent."

Do not expect the great survivor to change his tune this time around.