Extra Time

The season returns to rescue FIFA

After a season which was dominated by FIFA's descent into farce tepid international tournaments, World soccer needs a solid 2011-12 season to rebound.  The madness of King Sepp, has taken on a recent hypocritical colour with Jack Warner, long known to be corrupt and self-serving, being dismissed from his post on grounds of the same.  But his recent conviction came only after he spilled the beans on his relationship with Blatter and revealed the inner workings of FIFA’s machinations.  Of course, shedding light on FIFA's underhanded tactics is nothing new since Jerome Valcke, FIFA secretary, pretty much admitted to both receiving money and doling out favours to begin with, earlier this year.  Interestingly, Mohammad Bin Hammam the AFC head honcho, who was running against Blatter for the FIFA presidency, was fired from his post and barred from taking part in the election after it was confirmed that Hammam did in fact secure Qatar's 2022 WC hosting rights by buying votes from other nations and paying off FIFA as well, to keep mum, it seems.  But if he gets blamed and then thrown out for buying favours, how can the dispensers of said favours walk away unscathed.  Especially as FIFA received the money in the first place, ensured the voting went Qatar's way and were at every step, as guilty as Hammam. It would appear that Blatter ensured he would run for the main post unchallenged by removing his main competitor after implicating him first.

The plethora of summer tournaments were equal parts tepid and underwhelming whereas the Women's World Cup was far more engaging.  The Copa America was, for the most part, a damp squib with the group stages a procession of draws and defensive football.  Other than a 3-3 draw during the group stages between Paraguay and Venezuela, the final was the most and only memorable match of a month long tournament, itself a damning indictment of the fare served up.  A Gold Cup (Mexico and US in the final again), Euro U-21 tournament (Spain), World U-17 (Mexico) and U-20 Cups came and went with barely a whimper and little consistency or sustained class till the last few matches.  FIFA needs to make these tournaments more compact, featuring fewer teams and improve the quality of the product on display.  Otherwise it is an afterthought which adds to the notion that international football is dying a slow death.

On then to the new season, where after a summer of acrimonious transfer speculation and rumour-mongering, leagues have kicked off.  With several clubs going the billionaire route, the pressure to succeed has been ramped up even more.  Manchester City, who get plenty of ink and have accumulated a heady roster of talent, are going full tilt in England as a newly financed PSG (The Qatari Investment Authority) have spent mindboggling sums on players in putting together a super team in France - one that features, Javier Pastore as a 45 million euro buy from Palermo.  Meanwhile in Spain, another Qatari billionaire has made Malaga, the south coast club, his plaything and embarked on an ambitious player recruitment policy, bringing in the excellent Santi Cazorla from Villarreal, Lyon defensive midfielder Jeremy Toulalan and World Cup finalist Joris Mathijsen. With Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, could the British expatriate legion be paying to see a top four side? 

As grating and base that super rich clubs are, their motivations are a vicious circle. On one hand, failure to win brings in more investment and an increase in their heavy spending.  But success itself simply proves that said financial model is working, so why not keep at it till the owner gets tired.  And no one ever, gets tired of winning.  Just ask Alex Ferguson, who is embarking on his 26th season at the helm of Manchester United, and has rejuvenated the team once again. FIFA claims its financial fair play regulations will bring big spending clubs in line, however FIFA says one thing and does quite another.  Meanwhile clubs like Manchester City have gone to creative lengths to circumvent the rules, another FIFA specialty, by simply getting their parent company’s sister concerns to pay ridiculous shirt sponsorship deals.

However Manchester City are managed by the respectable and demure Roberto Mancini, an evergreen good guy since his playing days at Sampdoria.  As much as City’s billions are loathed by neutrals, their manager is still almost universally liked and similar to Pellegrini is a solid coach and decent human being who is to deliver success to a puerile and uncouth ambition.  Intriguingly, Pep Guardiola was part of the Barcelona team that beat Sampdoria, featuring Roberto Mancini, in the 1992 European Cup, the first one to have a group stage.  What price that they meet again this coming May in the 2012 final, at the helms of clubs this time?

Also, we must pay special attention to Novara and Evian TG, in Serie A and Ligue 1, respectively as they embark on their third division in three years, having made successive promotions.  The new season is here and it cannot have come sooner.