It was noted British journalist Andrew Jennings who compared FIFA to an organised crime family. Indeed, he wrote a book entitled “Omerta: Sepp Blatter’s FIFA Organised Crime Family”.
Now, you’d think a title like that would have the libel law suits lining up like a wall defending a Cristiano Ronaldo set piece. But none have been made public. Andrew Jennings says, “In Omerta, I show that the leadership of FIFA tick all the boxes defining an Organised Crime Syndicate.”
This is the organisation that made the 2022 World Cup hosting rights a bidding war where there could only be one winner – the petro-dollars cashed-up Qatar. This is the organisation where executive committee members lined their pockets in exchange for the biggest sporting event in the world.
It has been happening for decades but it became truly apparent to Australians on December 2, 2010, when Blatter pulled the name of Qatar out of one envelope, presumably while pocketing another one thickened with wads of cash.
In the parlance of those old mafia movies, if you want to kill off the octopus, you’ve got to go for the head, not the tentacles. A few days ago, it appeared that chance had been lost, as Blatter was re-elected to the head of FIFA for another four-year term. But as Jennings himself said, Blatter was a “dead man walking”.
With seven top FIFA officials arrested, and more to come, the persuasive powers of the Swiss authorities and the American Federal Bureau of Investigation needed to only ‘turn’ one of those officials. Blatter need not have taken one cent in bribes but if he knew it was going on and turned a blind eye to it, that was more than enough to make him complicit in the act.
However, before we start to sing ‘Ding dong, the witch is dead’, there are some sobering facts to consider. Blatter was re-elected only days ago, and garnered votes from – presumably – Japan and South Korea, if those nations followed the wishes of the Asian Confederation.
Japan and South Korea were both bidders for the 2022 World Cup, and both suffered in the same manner as Australia (and the USA) when the deeply flawed bid was awarded to Qatar. Yet the Blatter sphere of influence was so great that nations that should be sworn enemies of the regime lined up to vote for him. That sphere of influence won’t disappear just because he has stepped down.
Consider also that Asia had a ‘home’ candidate in the election – Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, a FIFA vice-president who has managed to uphold a clean reputation within the seething cauldron. Yet Asia is now run by Blatter loyalists and not even the lure of a president who resides in their own confederation was enough to sway the decision-makers.
Finally, unless the FBI manages to slap handcuffs on Blatter soon, there is nothing stopping him from standing again in a re-organised election. Given the manner in which FIFA distributes profits from major events (yes, folks, FIFA is a ‘non-profit organisation’, which means they’re the same as The Salvos or the Cancer Council), they effectively buy votes from countries as disparate as Montserrat and Bhutan.
Meanwhile, a tip of the hat to Football Federation Australia. Yes, there are questions that need to be asked still about that World Cup bid. It needs to be assessed whether the bidding team decided to ‘play the game’ when it came to some of the allocation of taxpayer funds to consultants.
There needs to be a thorough and open investigation on where the half a million dollars earmarked for a Caribbean centre of excellence finally ended up. All that needs to be made public. But at the very least, it was gratifying to see that Australia did not line up like lemmings when it came to voting for the FIFA presidency.
It was a small stand, but it at least was a stand. And it was made with considerable potential risk to the current Asian champions.
A small slice of dignity in a thoroughly undignified congress. Sepp Blatter’s war cry “Go, FIFA, go!” looked so incredibly asinine a few days ago. ‘Gone, Blatter, gone’ sounds a lot better a week later.
apaway
Roar Guru
Does that make him the Alan Bond of football, David? :)
JimmyB
Guest
But did he do those things for the right reasons? Most would sincerely doubt it. Money and Influence were the rewards, not spreading the gospel.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I have no problem with taxpayer money being sent for Trinidad stadium revamps. As long as it was known and above board. As long as Frank and the FFA went back to the government and itemized how that money was spent then its ok. Its the same thing that happens with foreign aid, as best as possible, you make sure who you are dealing with is legitimate and the funds are going to right places and you make a record of such. But sometimes even those best intentions are not met and foreign aid ends up in the wrong hands.
AR
Guest
"I think there is a difference between bribing decision-makers and contributing to infra-structure projects in developing football nations" It may be that, in this case, the two are the same. In any event, most people find it pretty outrageous that Australian taxpayer money was being sent to Trinidad for stadium revamps. To say that such a payment "fails the smell test", is putting it mildly.
c
Guest
I think that question should be directed to the federal bureau of investigation
Midfielder
Guest
David Excellently put and I quote you """ Whilst I, along with every other football fan, rejoice at the news of Blatters demise, it does bring to a sad end a regime that has ultimately been good for the game. The development in Africa and Asia during Blatters rule has been sensational. The growth in interest in the world cup, the development at junior and youth levels…Blatter has been paramount in all this."""
Davybhoy
Roar Rookie
The bribery at FIFA has been going on for decades...long before Blatters time. The absurdity of the Qatar decision simply brought matters to a head. The events of the past week should have happened the day after that announcement, not four and a half years later. Whilst I, along with every other football fan, rejoice at the news of Blatters demise, it does bring to a sad end a regime that has ultimately been good for the game. The development in Africa and Asia during Blatters rule has been sensational. The growth in interest in the world cup, the development at junior and youth levels...Blatter has been paramount in all this. When my non-football acquaintances ask me how he can possibly continue to be re-elected i point out the good that he has done and how he developed allies around the world. Asias first world cup? blatter. Africas first world cup? Blatter Asia's second world cup? Blatter He will be remembered as a crook for sure but as football fans we should also remember he did a lot of good too.
Midfielder
Guest
Andrew Jennings comes across to me as someone who finds something and then blames and accuses anyone and everyone involved as being rotten… he makes statements like rotten to the core and so on… In no defending what has happen but for me to assume every single thing about FIFA is corrupt is absurd …. and every single person who has had to operate within the systems it had in place as guilty is also absurd… Further lets not forget he makes money by selling books and TV appearances ... I don't think Frank has much to worry about as he has already offered and helped the FBI .... as detailed in his media release ... News 24 on the ABC interviewed a lady on governance issues and an expert and she made a lot of sense … she clearly said at operational levels FIFA does not appear to be corrupt its at its senior levels and in some areas… her view was it can be fixed up cleaned up with the right team and person in charge… she also said it needed to be someone outside a position of power within FIFA … I have time for Andrew Jennings but think he spreads his brush way to wide and deep … that is not saying he is wrong especially about those at the very top … Further if you assume Andrew Jennings is right FIFA can never be fixed as corruption is so bad as most outside junior staff are corrupt world over ….
Tigranes
Guest
How much do FIFA executives get paid?
apaway
Roar Guru
His diatribe against Frank Lowy relates pretty specifically to the World Cup bid. There are questions that need to be answered about the bid, but I think there is a difference between bribing decision-makers and contributing to infra-structure projects in developing football nations, only for that money to not land where it was intended.
apaway
Roar Guru
It's a good point, Rodger. One of Andrew Jennings' constant points is that the FIFA officials are answerable to nobody. They are rarely interviewed, no-one's quite sure of their names, yet they wield power and influence over the world's most popular sport.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
The author (apaway) stated that the AFC were/are aligned with Sepp Blatter. And he is most likely correct but who are these individuals; let's identify them and put some of the heat on them. Lets start putting some of those who voted for him in the spot light!
Laurence Plant
Roar Rookie
Who knows, we might have gotten a tip from the US that they had Blatter on the rack...
c
Guest
this British journalist has said some rather unkind things about frank l, is he correct ?