Blatter: I'm the godfather of women's football

The Fifa president believes he has helped the female game make huge strides during his time at the head of the sport's world governing body.

Sepp Blatter has labelled himself the "godfather of women's football", despite once claiming female players should wear tighter shorts to help market the game.

Women's football has made huge strides in recent years, with 24 nations set to contest the World Cup in Canada this summer.

Blatter has pointed to that number as evidence of his impact on the female game and now wants to help develop the standard even further.

He told BBC Sport: "I wouldn’t call the game my baby, but I consider myself to be the godfather of women’s football.

"Today we can say women’s football is everywhere in the world and in all 209 national associations women can now play football."

The 79-year-old was then asked about comments he made several years ago in which he suggested women could increase the popularity of their game by marketing it around their aesthetic.

He replied: "A different approach is needed when it comes to the marketing value of the game.

"At the moment women's football is still limping behind men's football because the game is marketed around men.

"Women's football is a product and the product must have quality. It's up to women to show they have that quality and attract people to the game."