Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter sends bizarre message to Roy Hodgson after Crystal Palace return

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter surprised fans by sending Roy Hodgson a bizarre congratulatory message on social media after sealing his return to Crystal Palace.

Hodgson is back in the game at Selhurst Park despite retiring last year following an unsuccessful stint with Watford, with the veteran coach tasked with saving the Eagles from relegation after the club sacked Patrick Vieira. 

And the 75-year-old received support from an unlikely source on Tuesday when Blatter took to Twitter to wish him good luck at his boyhood club.

‘Dear Roy, welcome back old chap!’ He said. ‘Good luck with your first love in football! 

Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that Blatter mis-spelt the club’s name as ‘Chrystal Palace’ – which will not go down well with the Palace faithful. 

Roy Hodgson (L) was bizarrely congratulated on his Crystal Palace return by Sepp Blatter (R)

This is not the first time Blatter has sent an endorsement to Hodgson – having given an approval of his appointment as England manager in 2012. 

‘Congratulations to former FIFA TSG member and Grasshopper coach Roy Hodgson on his England appointment… I wish him well,’ he tweeted. 

The pair are understood to have built up a good relationship from Hodgson’s time managing in Switzerland with Neuchatel Xamax, Grasshoppers and the Swiss national team. They have also crossed paths at FIFA technical study groups.

In recent years Blatter has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons after being involved in one of football’s most infamous corruption scandals during his time as president of FIFA. 

In 2015, Blatter and former UEFA chief Michel Platini were both banned from football for eight years over claims the former had unlawfully paid the Frenchman £1.7million back in 2011. 

The bans were later reduced – and last year the pair were cleared of corruption charges by a federal criminal court in Switzerland. 

Blatter had claimed the payment followed a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ from when Platini was a technical advisor in 1998. 

The 75-year-old returns to Selhurst Park just under two years after he left the club in May 2021

Last year Blatter was cleared of corruption after being banned from football for eight years 

Hodgson’s return to Palace was announced this week, with chairman Steve Parish backing him to help the team find form again in a ‘challenging period’. 

‘I would like to welcome Roy and Ray back to the club,’ he said.

‘We are obviously in a very challenging period but we believe that Roy’s and Ray’s experience, knowledge of the club and players, alongside Paddy can help fulfil the immediate requirement of keeping us in the league.’

Hodgson added: ‘It is a privilege to be asked to return to the club, which has always meant so much to me, and to be given the important task of turning the team’s fortunes around. 

‘Our sole objective now is to start winning matches, and to get the points necessary to ensure our Premier League status.

‘Crystal Palace is known for its fighting spirit, and I have no doubt that all our supporters will fight with us, beginning with the visit of Leicester City a week Saturday.’