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Two months ago, an arrogant and defiant FIFA president Sepp Blatter bowed to public outrage just after he had been re-elected to rule the world’s biggest sporting governing body for a fifth term.
He was going to stand down.
Two days ago, the same arrogant and defiant Blatter told the sporting world he would stay put until February 26 next year when his successor will be named.
“I will not be standing, so there will be a new president, I will be the old one,” he said.
Blatter got that bit right, he’s 79. But the rest of it is crap.
Blatter wants time to “reform” FIFA so the governing body of an estimated 250 million footballers around the world will be more transparent.
More crap.
Blatter reforming FIFA will be like an arsonist commanding the fire brigade, or a serial killer owning a funeral parlour.
It’s not hard to predict the intense manoeuvring from within FIFA contenders that’s already begun and will gather momentum all the way to the February 26 election.
That in itself is also crap.
If Blatter and FIFA want transparency, full page ads must be inserted in all the major newspapers of the world, seeking the right successor who must have at least four qualifications:
1. A quality sporting background as player or senior sporting administrator.
2. Have shown great courage and leadership during a crisis in their current or past positions.
3. Be incorruptible.
4. And for preference have a qualified legal background.
And the cream of candidates would rise to the surface. To have all four of those qualifications would cut out the vast majority of the in-house FIFA contenders.
But Australia has the perfect answer for the next president of FIFA. David Gallop ticks all the boxes, and then some.
And before you round ball aficionados have heart attacks, or want to strap me in a straight jacket, let Gallop’s achievements sink in.
He comes from tough stock as the son of John Gallop, who was made a QC in 1976, was appointed to the bench of the Federal Court of Australia, and the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 1977, and a Judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT in 1982 where he retired on his 70th birthday, after nearly 18 years service.
John Gallop had another string to his achievement bow as the captain-keeper of the ACT representative cricket team when I was captain of Mosman.
Each season we played against one another on an alternate home-and-away basis in a game both teams looked forward to with anticipation. John Gallop was a very tough competitor on the field, but a warm personality over a beer at game’s end.
David Gallop was a kid in short pants who was always at the Manuka Oval game, watching through the fence. He’s still only 49 years old, but has already chalked up a sporting admin CV second to none.
He played cricket and rugby at Canberra Grammar, but John eventually switched him to follow the Canberra Raiders.
David Gallop gained his law degree at Sydney University in 1988, and headed for England to play cricket in the Kent League. When he returned to Sydney he played grade cricket with Uni of NSW, and joined a law firm.
His life changed when he met John Ribot, former Kangaroo winger and the father of Super League. Gallop was immediately immersed in Super League as the legal affairs manager.
Recognition was always close to Gallop when he was voted the NSW Sports Administrator of the Year in 2002, and the Australian Sports Administrator of the Year in 2006. He was the NRL’s CEO from 2002 to 2012, and has been the CEO of the FFA since 2012.
His strong leadership at the NRL was never better illustrated than 2010 when Gallop stripped Melbourne Storm of two premierships and three minor premierships for rorting the salary cap, and fined the club $1.6 million.
And there were many other instances where rugby league players went of the rails, and Gallop had to mend fences following 3am phone calls.
He was always in control.
So for any potential knockers wanting to deny David Gallop’s credentials for being an ideal candidate for FIFA president, read his credentials again.
And wish they were yours.