Sadly for Australian football fans, Ben Buckley does not fit into this category and seems to enjoy proving it on a regular basis.
Among the consternation of Wednesday’s farcical FIFA Presidential vote that saw Sepp Blatter re-elected unopposed, were the calls of some nations to boycott the poll. The English FA led the charge which was tepidly supported, but not enough to cause a boil over.
The question on everyone’s lips back home was, did the FFA boldly stand up to the corrupt circus that FIFA has become – even if it resulted in naught – or did it follow the other 185 spineless lemmings into the abyss?
Sadly for Australian football fans and lovers of honest democracy, it was the latter.
Football Federation of Australia Chief Ben Buckley said, “We didn’t believe there was any support for that position (of delaying the election) and that was obviously evidenced by the vote when it was taken when the proposal was put forward.”
In other words – “We weren’t prepared to make a stand and would instead prefer not to rock the boat, allowing the status quo to continue unabated for our own political interests.”
While the FFA would never go on record with this, many are speculating that the Federation endorsed Blatter in the dim hope that a re-vote might occur for the 2022 World Cup.
It’s a tiny glimmer in the distance that has cost Australian football its spine and integrity. Even if a re-vote does occur, the FFA does not deserve to have the tournament fall in its lap, but that’s another story.
This was the ideal opportunity for Ben Buckley to win back the fans, to show some leadership on the global stage and make a stand. Instead, it’s more of the same watery garbage from our football governing body who will seemingly pander to and communicate with anyone except its own fans.
Bondy
Guest
Uncle Bob . Thats a pretty filthy comment you've made there PAL .
Bondy
Guest
Bondy, this kind of post is walking a fine line. Suggest you refrain from targeting particular posters. Thanks, Roar Mods.
The Mad Chatter
Roar Rookie
Spot on Cliff. Could not agree with you more. Exactly the same points I was making. The FFA are a joke and I agree the Government should look at their funding and strucuture. Hear hear!!
cliff
Guest
The FFA does not subscribe to principles of democratic representation and integrity of principles.They are a self appointed organisation which runs the game in Australia according to objectives they decide.Many of those objectives coincide with the rest of us.But FFA is a benevolent dictatorship.Be under no illusion. FIFA is supposedly a democratic body ,but with poor governance and because of it's swiss jurisdiction ,virtually a boys club with no legal recourse for indiscretions.Obviously it was set up this way to avoid external government judicial control.which allows any corruption to be protected and 'dealt 'with internally.A democracy in name only! The obvious conclusion from all of this is that FFA will only ever make a moral based decision if it suits them or it is forced on them .I for one hope the government review forces FFA to be set up with a democratic structure and strong governance. I like some of the things FFA does ,but I will never have any respect for the organisation while it remains an unaccountable dictatorship. Kudos to those countries that had the courage of their convictions.Even if some had ulterior motives.Unlike Australia they can claim to have the moral high ground.
The Mad Chatter
Roar Rookie
I 100% agree that the FFA missed a golden opportunity to contribute to a FIFA clean up. How could they support a bloke who was at the helm during the time the organisation became dirty. Blatter himself admitted after winning the one horse race election earlier this week that he will start to clean up FIFA. If he needs to clean it up, by default it must have been dirty and the Aussies just went and backed a bloke who admitted things were not perfect. A bad call by the FFA and they should be explaining to the Australian tax payers after spending $45 million of our money on a bid that was affect by alleged corruption why they backed the same man for another four years that was leading FIFA during a very controversial time. Not happy Frank and Ben Buckley - not happy at all.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Enough guys, thanks. Roar Mods.
Ari Viderci
Guest
A note Ari Viderci, discuss and debate. The Roar is a place for respectful sporting debate, not flaming or abusive remarks. Please be respectful of this - Roar Mods.
jamesb
Guest
...at the end of the day, the only way Sepptic and FIFA would collapse and start afresh would be if corporate sponsors start to pull out. Throw in one or two whistle blowers and quite a number of parliaments around the world going against FIFA, it would be unlikely Sepptic would see out 4 years. He'll be lucky to see out 4 months the way things are going.
jamesb
Guest
"on the one hand during the world cup bid we have people saying we are a mere flea on the hide of FIFA and don’t have any power and therefore no chance. On the other we are supposed to lead the revolution of the association" Aka best comment i've read on this issue. your spot on mate
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
steve ellis ... In the words of Marvin Lee Aday (aka Meatloaf) ..."you took the words right out of my mouth"!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ Ari Viderci I'm more than happy with my financial, emotional and intellectual commitment to Football in Australia over the past 40 years. And, as I am now in a position to provide the next level of financial commitment I have made preliminary enquiries to provide some form of sponsorship to a local football club and MVFC. Sure, I'm never going to be as big a stakeholder as Hyundai but I'm thrilled to be able to continuously increase my level of involvement in the Beautiful Game.
Ari Viderci
Guest
Can see the problem now, Fuss. All this time you've been thinking you're a stakeholder and all you are is a garden variety A-League club's season-ticket holder; not even a voting member of a club operating under the FIFA model constitution. Just quietly that won't even get you into the FIFA/FFA/FFV tent. For that you'll have to become a voting member of an FFV-affiliated club or become a referee or something. It's worth it - at induction into the football family we all get introduced to Sepp personally. He asked me for my bank details. Easy mistake to make though, thinking $20 and three hours a fortnight commitment to the terrace plus 2 million propaganda postings a week makes you an integral part of football's workings. Picking up a Double Down at KFC won't get you the casting vote at Yum Brands AGM either, by the way. That's not to say valued customers as yourself don't have an interest in the outcomes of FFA's businesses but there is a chain of command and, well - I don't know quite how to put this without riling you -but you ain't in it. Funny thing is you've spent six years thinking you were.
steve ellis
Guest
Fussball ... are you implying the australian sports journos with their big opinion pieces in our ..ahem quality commercial media..ahem.. are not the 'best informed and most influential in the world' ..? but possibly ...a posse of clueless provincial agenda driven cretins ...
Mick
Guest
Blatter supports Australia being part of Asia, Blatter supports a kiwi team being in the a-league, it is not like Australia is going to get the chocolates so to speak.. The countries that that spend the most now get all the events, have a look where the Euros, Olympics, World cups are being held now, the world bank conspiracy..
Victer
Guest
I love that picture
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I've often wondered about this woman by the ocean
whiskeymac
Guest
Its disappointing that we voted for Blatts but overall we can't blame BB for this - as much as the whole mess is a mess I dont think its to be laid at FFA's door (they have enough local issues to worry about).
whiskeymac
Guest
"it is all about comprise" OK. What was the compromise? We vote Blatter and we get...?
whiskeymac
Guest
was it a secret ballot? cld they have abstained like the 17 others and not said anything or did it need to be broadcast that we were 100% Blatterites?
whiskeymac
Guest
"We are bent over with cheeks spread wide for all and sundry" I always thought it was for "we are young and free and girt by sea" but your take it on it is interesting.