Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Extra Time

Grant Wahl deserves all our support.

The only thing more alarming than FIFA's corruption, is the widespread disregard to the events, shown by the global community.  Yes, there's been the odd condemnation, bits of recrimination and some half-hearted calls for the odd head to roll, metaphorically.  But that's to be expected, really, it's the bare minimum.  Most fans and administrators can only knowingly shake their heads, mutter the odd "I told you so." or "Yup, always suspected it." and continue with their daily lives.



There has been no groundswell of animosity or spread of revolutionary fervour.  At a time when governments the world over are nervously looking over their shoulders, on the back of the upheavals in the Middle-East, not one tangible move has been made to usurp the power brokers at FIFA.  There has been absolutely no move made to unseat Sepp Blatter.  CONCACAF Supremo Chuck Blazer said a few things.  People nodded.  Jack Warner, no slouch to underhanded corruption himself, made a few noises.  People listened.  Some people talked about boycotts, others about changing the power structure and election mechanisms, but it was just leaves in the wind.  Blowing about, with no one paying much attention.

Then everyone either clicked a link, flipped switch or pressed a button and moved on.  The world's biggest sporting event, the World Cup Finals, was sold, sorry 'awarded' to a country with no pedigree, atmosphere or facilities.  And we could do and did nothing.

Apathy.  People know that nothing can be done and nothing will change, they've given up on FIFA.  As it emerged that Blatter had slowly allowed knowledge of the corruption to emerge so as to strengthen his own hand at the election, the disgust grew but the lack of constructive emotion was palpable, by its absence.  No one cares about FIFA as it cares only about itself.  To underline the complete loss of reality at Football's HQ, the FIFA presidential election proceeded with ONE name on the ballot sheet.

FIFA has lost us.  Completely.

So to sum up, FIFA President Sepp Blatter allowed privileges and Earth's biggest tournament to be sold in return for favours and money.  He then revealed who did what, thereby eliminating his biggest rival for the presidency, Mohammad Bin Hammam, the Chief of the Qatari FA and head of their World Cup committee, form said presidency and subsequently got himself re-elected on a ballot sheet with just one name on it.  His own.

Wow. Just Wow.

FIFA has lost the plot.  Completely.

No one needs FIFA to run the game, yet it's there.  No one can shift it or change it.  Yet it's there.  It is supposed to govern and inspire.  It does neither.  It is supposed to improve and reach out to engage the whole world.  It sure does the latter, but only for fat wads of cash.

As a silver lining, we must take heart from the knowledge that football will continue with or without FIFA.  There is way too much money and emotion invested in the game for anyone to really sit up and take notice. Leagues will reconvene, tournaments will recur, stars will fill seats, boxes will continue to host dimwitted moneymen.

But FIFA will never get any respect back.  It is now a glorified mafia outfit, run by a group of self-serving old boys who back slap and fill their pockets to the game's ruin.  And no one even cares.  We still own this game, it's still ours.  But FIFA has lost its right to call it theirs to govern.

One day someone like Grant Wahl, SI's excellent soccer correspondent, may fill the top seat at FIFA.  Maybe then, FIFA will get its soul back.



Over to you Grant.

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