Football in Australia is going ahead in leaps and bounds. After decades of disunity and dysfunction the current authorities in this country have given the world game a proper place in the sporting fabric of the nation.
Praise must be given to FFA chairman Frank Lowy and the equally adept and competent men who now oversee the code in Australia.
One wonders if some of them may be just what FIFA requires at present as the farce that is Qatar 2022 continues to attract headlines.
Right from the time the vote was counted to grant Qatar the hosting rights for 2022, FIFA’s handling of the situation has been inept, and if it weren’t for the severity of its incompetence, laughable.
The Qatar bungle is by no means the first major gaffe FIFA has had but it certainly looms as one of its most infamous.
Five countries tendered for the right to play host to the sport’s showcase in eight years’ time – Australia, USA, Japan, South Korea and Qatar.
The four nations who failed to win the staging rights for the 22nd World Cup all had bids that were superior to the victor.
Yet the 22 men charged with deciding the venue thought otherwise.
Qatar will be the smallest country to host the sport’s showpiece – it has a population of just 1.7 million.
Five new stadia will be built and a sixth in Doha will be expanded. One wonders how quickly the cobwebs will unfurl when the circus moves on.
But should it still be held in the sovereign Arab state?
From day one fans around the globe were shaking their heads at Qatar’s winning bid. When tenders were called for the event it was to be scheduled for the European winter, a timeframe that would have no impact on the northern hemisphere’s major leagues.
The five nations in the running tendered on that basis.
Qataris, and everyone from FIFA who would cast their vote, knew that at that time of the year you could fry an egg on the sidewalk in minutes.
In June and July the daytime temperature can exceed 50C.
Bid chairman for Qatar 2022, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, stated in March 2009 – nearly two years before the final vote was taken – that “The event has to be organised in June or July. We will have to take the help of technology to counter the harsh weather”.
Problem solved said FIFA’s el supremo Sepp Blatter as the bid had made arrangements for the venues to be suitably air-conditioned.
The Qatar bid chairman also said in March 2009 that “we have other plans up our sleeve”.
It seems FIFA did as well.
For many months there has been a rumour circulating that the 2022 World Cup would be moved to a more climate friendly time.
Last week, FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke, said on French radio that the tournament would likely be shifted to “between November 15 and January 15 … when you can play in temperatures equivalent to a warm spring season in Europe.”
The words had no sooner escaped Valcke’s lips before FIFA – the organisation he heads up on a day-to-basis – was on the defensive issuing retractions while stating that no such decision had been made (keep in mind at this point that Blatter is the head of FIFA).
UEFA boss Michel Platini was one of many up in arms about Valcke’s comments, saying “I do not see why it is discussed publicly. Two months ago Blatter spoke about it, now it’s Valcke. This is supposed to be a decision for the executive committee of FIFA, but maybe the executive committee doesn’t matter”.
Platini may have received an answer to his musings in the past 24 hours with Blatter again going public.
Whilst being interviewed on Britain’s Sky Sports News he came out with the following: “In 2015 we will make a decision whether yes or no we play in summer or winter but the tendency is definitely it is too hot in summer so let’s find a solution to play in winter”.
Obviously, Blatter had no idea that Qatar could be so hot in June and July when his merry band of 22 voted for it to stage the World Cup.
If – or rather when – FIFA officially announces a back-flip that would do Greg Louganis proud and reschedules the tournament it will effectively make the initial bidding process null and void.
If a rescheduling is granted by FIFA a total re-tendering process has to be sought.
Not to do so would be a complete and utter sham.
This process – flawed and corrupt as it may be – is a multi-million dollar one.
The FFA alone utilised $45m of taxpayers’ money to put its case forward to host the 2022 event – an event that HAD to be staged in June/July.
One of the key tenets of the entire tendering process looks certain now to be cast aside.
Such action demands a totally new bid process and with eight years still to run there is ample time to make amends.
If it is not, the likes of Blatter and many of his cronies need to either step down or be pushed aside.
The world game and its billions of fans deserve greater transparency than they are currently receiving.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Not if both parties agree to an ammendment of the contract provisions. The contract for hosting the World Cup is separate from the procurement process.
josh
Roar Rookie
I'd say under most contract laws, a significant change in relation to a project criteria would result in a new tender process. What Laws do FIFA operate under? Swiss? Surely if nothing happens and the date is shifted. A legal challenge will result? I won't hold my breath though.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I agree, Steven. I've been in UAE, Qatar and Kuwait and have seen how much rivalry there is between the various states. It is a pity, but it is also the reality.
Bob Anderson
Guest
Brazil may prove to be a bad choice too. A couple months ago I read about a street gang there that was threatening to shut down the World Cup with violence if its leader didn't get released from solitary confinement. This is a gang that has killed over 200 police offices in Sao Paolo alone in the past few years. I don't know if they came to an agreement with the government or not, I haven't seen anything more about the story.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
It's a nice idea Ben but I don't think any of those other states are as interested in lining FIFA's pockets as the Qataris are or as football focused. Countries such as Oman have tiny populations, what would they do with 2 stadia and all the infrastructure afterwards? I was in Muscat recently and it would need a LOT of work to get up to standard. This is going to be an incredibly expensive World Cup to host. The Bahrainis have chosen motorsports, F1 in particular as their chosen sport and I don't see Kuwait as in any shape or form in the position to take on this kind of challenge, they're too busy trying to prop up Iraq to keep the Gulf intact. Dubai is also marginal as they are so stretched on other matters and also have horse racing as a major major interest financially in the shape of Godolphin. The Saudis have the football interest and the money and cities probably capable of hosting the thing but they've shown no interest in doing so and the laws there are just too strict and conservative to consider a mass arrival of football fans. Within the Emirates also there is a huge amount of rivalry so there's nothing to suggest that other UAE nations would want to help out Qatar or that the Qataris would ever want them involved. The infighting and bickering even within Dubai on many projects is massive. You'd also have the prospect of several nations hosting but not competing - and they see themselves as very separate nations anyhow - as you couldn't grant home automatic qualification to them all. This is all about Qatar and FIFA and nothing else sadly. Nice to dream though Ben, FIFA could do with a few people with an outlook like yours.
sheek
Roar Guru
Aljay, If you're asking me that question - they're not pushing hard enough or often enough.
sheek
Roar Guru
We're arguing different things. You're going on about FFA & Australian attitudes. I'm talking about FIFA - they are rotten to the core. And I'm not saying that because I'm Australian, but because FIFA IS rotten. FIFA rides roughshod over everyone & most seem to accept with a shrug. Probably because half the countries of the world are crooked themselves. I think Glenn explains it quite well below to Nordster.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The weather is primarily a concern as the World Cup is being held entirely in Qatar. Training grounds, stadiums etc all become problems as such a small state is unable to provide the sheer volume of cooler infrastructure required. Doha just is not big enough. Had the World Cup been hosted by Qatar but shared amongst the Gulf States (say 2 stadiums in Qatar, 1in Bahrain, 1 in Kuwait, 3 in UAE and 2 in Oman) then suitable training grounds, cool areas for fans etc could be established - in fact many currently exist. On top of this it would have been a cultural extravaganza affording fans the opportunity to move from the deserts of Qatar to the beaches of Dubai through to the mountains of Oman. Qatar is an opportunity missed.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Real football, I would beg to differ. This is fresh news. In the past week ... Valcke says it will be moved to December/January. Within a day, FIFA says no such decision has been made. A few days later, Blatter says what he did (as quoted above). Then Platini buys in to the debate. All in the space of a week. I would call that 'fresh' and further evidence of the total dysfunction FIFA has displayed on this issue.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Seems strange that there was always such flexibility built in as you say Phutbol when before the bids were lodged the Qatar bid chairman said the tournament had to be scheduled in June/July. If FIFA was not going to honour the instructions it issued to the bidders, and were verbally outlined to the world by Blatter and Valcke, why did they not just say when they awarded the hosting rights that it was going to be held six months later? Their own bid evaluation team raised serious issues re the climate for the middle of the year for Qatar so they knew all the problems at the time of voting.
Australian Rules
Guest
"Thats just words that have no legal meaning." Perhaps, but they are words that were uttered publicly about the WC bidding process by the No.1 and No.2 FIFA Execs. FIFA set conditions for the bid...selected the winner...and then changed the conditions. For all FIFA's self-pious froth, this is not about "spreading football around the world", it's about "who can pay us the most?".
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Exactly Aljay. The weather issue was a major problem for the FIFA bid evaluation team. That was ignored by the Executive Committee. Yet now it is a major issue. Go figure!
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Nordster, with all due respect, never in the history of bidding for the WC rights has the tournament been moved by up to six months after the hosting rights were awarded. I did not write this as a pro-AUS piece but one that highlights the shameful behaviour of FIFA. Simply, if Qatar remains as the host country, according to the FACT that FIFA stated in its letting of the tenders, and reiterated by the Qatar bid chairman, that it had to be played in June-July, that is where it should remain. By shifting dates it clearly indicates that Qatar should never have won the vote.
Lee
Roar Rookie
Basically, money buys World Cups... You are correct, which means that the TV networks will decide when the WC is held. Pick the wrong time, and some serious renegotiations will be occurring.
Lee
Roar Rookie
nordster said: As for definitions of slavery?.the UN has its definitions on things….others have there’s…u dont need to look to far to see the UN is only one particular averaged out point of view on any issue. Tony - shouldn't you be back in Canberra running the country by now?
Phutbol
Guest
Thats just words that have no legal meaning. A bit like "Oceania will receive one full WC place"... just words. Its whats actually WRITTEN in the tender document that matters.
realfootball
Guest
The Roar is struggling for both material and quality of delivery. I barely visit the site any more. Too much lazy, repetitive writing from the staff writers. Sorry if that feels blunt. Put it down to my disappointment. If a piece has nothing to add to a given subject that hasn't already been said, it shouldn't be published, this article being a case in point. The Roar badly needs to lift its game on football.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The corruption in FIFA is just disgusting, especially with things like this. To basically have all these criteria you make everyone jump through and then select the bid that is the worst at meeting the requirements given is the biggest example of that. Basically, money buys World Cups. Clearly. Qatar 2022 will be an absolute farce!
Australian Rules
Guest
This comment is completely wrong - the "June-July timing WAS set in stone". Here's what Valcke said after the vote was taken: "The invitation to tender was to play this [2022] World Cup in June, and that's how it was done." And Blatter: "The basic conditions – not just for Qatar, but for all the candidates – were the same. It means that the Fifa World Cup is played in June and July."
Phutbol
Guest
This horse has been dead for a long time Glenn. Stop flogging it. Your article and many of your subsequent comments seem based on the premise that the June-July timing was set in stone. Even a casual observer would easily have found countless references to Blatter/Valcke/FIFA's assertions that the tender document did indeed have plenty of scope to allow for the dates to be moved. FIFA may be many of the evil things you assert but one of them is not dumb. Of course they've left provisions in their processes to move the dates without recourse for any legal challenge. Its what they do.