FIFA: Making it
Safe for UEFA to Exploit the South (Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria)
"The
revelations of the New York Public Prosecutor’s Office about bribery and
corruption by those responsible for the management authority of FIFA show to
what point football has been corrupted by all that is contrary to the values of
the sport. It has reached the point that the organization of major global
sporting events like the World Cup are the object of vulgar bargaining,
haggling and pressure by big money and sports lobbies. … Moreover,
a position at FIFA, CAF or any other regional
confederation, is the equivalent of entering 'a land of milk and honey,' to the
detriment of the development of the sport of football. For all these reasons,
football in the Southern Hemisphere has remained under-developed and continues
to be vulnerable to exploitation by the rich nations, as comprised under the
umbrella of UEFA."
Earthquake
inside FIFA – amazement in the football world. Nine executive
members of FIFA, including vice presidents, have been charged with corruption
by American justice, which demands their extradition. The supreme authority of
world football is, since last week, at the heart of a major corruption and
bribery scandal that is tarnishing its leaders. Equally at issue is the opaque
management of SeppBlatter, who will now succeed himself for a fifth term in
office. The case is a simple on: FIFA managers, including those of The
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
[CONCACAF], are accused by U.S. justice authorities of having taken bribes and
commissions since 1990 in return for TV broadcast rights and awarding at least
the next two World Cups (2018 and 2022) to Russia and Qatar. Much ink has
already been spilled over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, which
appears to have involved FIFA Vice President and President of the Asian
Confederation Mohamed Ben
Hammam.
In short, the scandal, with directors of the football world
arrested like vulgar gangsters at their luxury hotel in Geneva, touches every
key authority in world football and casts serious disrepute on its management,
which generates a turnover one could only dream of - particularly for the TV
rights. But matters are even more serious, as American justice is involved and
requires, according to the New York attorney general, the extradition of nine FIFA executives and five of their sports
marketing executive partners arrested in Geneva. They face long prison
sentences for corruption.
Essentially though, it is above all the management of FIFA
by SeppBlatter and his vice
presidents that is at the center of this swelling controversy, even if he
himself is outside the scandal for the moment. Already, now that the scandal
has erupted, analysts and former advisors in Blatter’s cabinet in Geneva aren't
hesitating to discuss the “mafia” that runs world football. Certainly, not
everything was rosy, even at the time of [former FIFA President] Brazilian JoãoHavelange in whose shadow Blatter armed himself
and forged his support. However, the revelations of the New York Public
Prosecutor’s Office about bribery and corruption by those responsible for the
management authority of FIFA show to what point football has been corrupted by
all that is contrary to the values of the sport. It has reached the point that
the organization of major global sporting events like the World Cup are the
object of vulgar bargaining, haggling and pressure by big money and sports
lobbies. The affair is equally serious because it reveals how much world
football, under the management of Blatter and his team, has quite simply become
hostage to the business world, the mafia and money. How profound is this drift?
This scandal should have encouraged, at least out of respect for the values of
sports ethics, the current FIFA president to resign.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Maintaining
his candidacy for last week's elections was symptomatic of the dictatorship he
has imposed at the heart of the managing authority of world football, starting
with the Confederation of African Football [CAF],
which is also run by a president [Issa Hayatou] who refuses to leave and allow
rejuvenation of the leadership of African football. Moreover, a position at
FIFA, CAF or any other regional confederation, is the
equivalent of entering “a land of
milk and honey,” to the detriment of the development of the sport of
football. For all these reasons, football in the Southern Hemisphere has remained under-developed and continues to be vulnerable
to exploitation by the rich nations, as comprised under the umbrella of the
Union of European Football Associations [UEFA].
