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Ancient and modern

What Tacitus would have made of the applause at Fifa

Like Nero's terrified senators, Sepp Blatter's courtiers know how the game is played

13 June 2015

9:00 AM

13 June 2015

9:00 AM

Apparently Fifa emperor Sepp Blatter received a ten-minute standing ovation from his 400 staff when he addressed them after his resignation. But why? Were they expressing sorrow at his departure? Relief? Or prudently watching their backs?

Life was never easy around the Roman emperor either, whether he was among the people or in the imperial court.

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