He became a lawyer, and in 1897 he started a sports club called Red Star which, due to Rimet's ideals, did not discriminate against its members on the basis of class.

When he was 17, Pope Leo XIII released his encyclical on the dignity of work, Rerum novarum, which would have a profound effect on the young Catholic Rimet, and sparked his efforts to promote these views.

After taking up the post he moved once again to start a global tournament, but was opposed by the amateur football associations and Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee.

[2] In 1928 FIFA, under Rimet's leadership, went forward with plans for a "World Cup" which was held in Uruguay due to the nature of the professional game in South America, and in part because the Uruguayan Football Association offered to pay all travel costs.

Rimet travelled to Uruguay for the World Cup on SS Conte Verde along with the competing European teams,[5] all the while carrying the trophy in his bag.

This was the key reason why, of the European nations, only four (France, Belgium, Romania and Yugoslavia) accepted invitations to send teams to compete, and even then, they only did so because of Rimet's influence.

[5] The following World Cup was held in Italy under the Fascist rule of Benito Mussolini, which was used to promote the regime, something that Rimet was accused of ignoring.