SPORT A-Z OF FIFA PART

After what seems like constant speculation it seems appropriate that a somewhat jovial, yet also questioning A-Z of FIFA should be constructed. The farce with the poppies last week proves that the machine must not be disrupted on any level and the fact they even allowed us, is something we should (apparently) be grateful for. This machine, all of it’s branches and tiers and of course the man at it’s helm is the governing body of world football but, as most machines of such vast size, is corrupt and far too powerful. Here are my attempts to categorise this body of footballing power and wealth in the alphabet.

A is for Australia – It seems an odd place to start but losing out to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup was a ridiculous call when Australia deserved the vote. The Australian FA invested $46 million on it’s own bid and yet fell short. The issue internally with their Rugby League and Aussie Rules fixture list clash (should their bid have succeeded) seemed the excuse that Blatter and FIFAused to eliminate Australia from the running, albeit a race with a selected winner. Australian football has been on the up and the only other country threatening the same kind of progress is the USA, who were also successful in their bid for the same year. In the words of Blatter and FIFA, the promotion of the game across the world is pivotal and yet the decision to favour other countries with other peripheral benefits seemed to take precedence. Countries such as the USA or Australia, had good set-ups of stadium, transport links and were countries whose passion for the sport was on the increase and they weren’t picked? It says more than enough about the machine’s true aim. B is for Blatter – Who else could have taken the B spot? Bin Hammam was close but unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, he fell out of the running. The man has been in charge for four terms. That is nearly a total of 16 years and let’s not forget he himself is 75 years old. His reappointment in 2007 was only with 60 voting in favour (from a possible 207) which apart from a hugely obvious mathematical failing, suggests that people are just plain and simple afraid of the man. His entire FIFA presidency career has been riddled with corruption, money laundering, sexist comments and international abandonment. His is infuriating and yet is the most powerful man in football. What has he changed during his spell you ask? Well, not as much as you would want/hope/think for such a long spell. The silver goal, the yellow card for over-zealous and shirt removing celebrations and no automatic qualification for the next campaign for World Cup Champions are all on the list of Blatter’s changes. Positive or not that’s not even the question I ask myself. I am sure there are many more internal changes that he has made to the game and I am sure, although it has hard for me to say, some of them of good use but it is the fact that we, the footballing public, no nothing of these changes, most peculiarly the internal ones. Again, it certainly says enough about the machine and the man at it’s helm, who really must be laughing at how things have turned out for him.

(Jonathan Harding’s football writing, this article included, features online at www.the4thofficial.co.uk)

Amy Wakeham Editor