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.
Tim Coghlan
Roar Rookie
"3. Be incorruptible." The NewsCorp puppet who abitrially decided which clubs got punished for salary cap breaches and which got away with it. The guy who sent a message to young kids that the punishment for drink driving is missing two games of footy..... You are having a laugh. While I agree that FIFA should be looking outside the current family, they won't. Europe and South America will band together to try and maintain their dominance by backing Plattini. This will succeed unless the rest of the countries get behind someone else. The only Australian who would stand a chance of being considered is John Fahey after his stint with WADA, and their pursuit of cleaning up cycling. But like is said before it will never happen.
apaway
Roar Guru
While it may have appeared quite honourable of Mr O'Farrell, let's not forget it all happened in the middle of the ICAC investigations and he had been a strident critic of the Labor Party's extraordinary shenanigans. And while this conversation took place a while back, Fussball and MF, you are wonderful and articulate practitioners of the art of the debate. Well done to you both, this has been an entertaining read.
bryan
Guest
Fuss,that's a rather strange comment. The AFL gets annual injections of quality players from the WAFL.VFL.SANFL.etc. As you have pointed out on many occasions,AR is not a significant game Internationally,so there is no other source of players. The only real attempt at "Marquee" players have been with Gary Ablett with the Gold Coast Suns,& Buddy Franklin with the Sydney Swans. Ablett has been a success, Franklin much less so. Aha! I get your cunning plan---you are pointing out in an oblique way that the AFL gets by with recruiting its players out of the local pool,so the "A" League can do the same without relying upon "Marquees" I agree with that contention!
Kirk
Guest
Gallop was the one who undersold the rights during the previous negotiations which put the NRL miles behind its biggest competitor (AFL) even though league's ratings were the same if not higher than the AFL.
woodo
Guest
Well crowds are down compared to when Gallop was in charge, as are ratings. I'm confused are you suggesting I should say they've regressed rather than stagnated? The NRL has heaps of money, this is true, that's thanks to the big tv deal they were able to sign due to the large ratings the sport enjoyed... while under Gallop.
Kirk
Guest
The NRL has stagnated since Gallop has gone? are you David Lord? One thing the NRL has now is money and lots of it. It also has a proactive leader with a bit more backbone. I don't think Gallop or News Ltd ever had Rugby Leagues best interest at heart when they were running it. the NRL was News's play thing for 10+ years.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Bondy Expect some really irrational rants from the Egg Ballers who follow the Victorian Rules. Their game is in a mess on field & AFL HQ is in a state of panic. AusKick in Victoria is down by 20-25%, which is massive & the participants have all moved to football. Then the arrival of football's global superstars exposes the Victorian sport to a level of insignificance that's plain for anyone to see. So comical to see AFL blokes who strut around like demi-gods normally acting like groupies wanting to get a bit of attention from CR7 & his team mates. Finally, the actual AFL game is now absolutely crap - other than when it's a fixture involving the about 4 decent teams. Even then, it's likely to be over as a contest within 30 minutes. That's not my analysis, it's the analysis of past players. The AFL has commissioned a complete review of the the way the sport is played. A good summary here; "AFL is in a dangerous place at the moment, partly through its own making, partly through circumstances beyond its control. But the warning signs keep coming.." Full story: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/perfect-storm-engulfing-the-afls-heartland-20150722-giie75.html
Bondy
Guest
Fussball Have you noticed Mr Football " cough " being a little bit more unusual or aggressive over the past week it wouldn't be because the biggest football clubs in the world are here, would it . Lets see if he calms down his as^ ho^e attitude once they leave ? .
Bondy
Guest
MF Did you want to answer the question that I put to you, if AFL is the best of its kind in the world why hasn't it gained solid traction up and down the eastern seaboard . . You're not shi^^'y because we've thrown you out of the G for the " Real Football " are you ? ,it appears that way with your recent posts over the past couple of days .
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Bondy I know it is sometimes quite difficult to tell whether Fussball is a true soccer fan, or just a recent newcomer to the game, but unlike you, I would prefer to think that he genuinely likes the game.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Bondy 1. We are on a soccer tab, and I haven't referred to any other football code, nor is it really relevant to the discussion. 2. Are you telling me that you have never come across soccer fans here or on other forums make the claim that the A-League needs an annual infusion of star quality to maintain public and media interest? I have come across countless threads where this assertion is made, especially in the context of increasing broadcasting revenue and/or getting the product onto commercial FTA. So often is this claim made, that I am wondering why anyone would think it controversial to mention it here. Let me give you some examples. Earlier this year, our very own asanchez wrote: "2. Marquee situation I think it’s time for the FFA to drive the marquee concept. We’ve seen what true marquees like Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono did for the game. They drove up attendances, sponsorships, TV audiences, YouTube hits, and overall interest in the sport and the league. Granted, our clubs can’t afford what MLS clubs are throwing around these days. Players like Kaka and Clint Dempsey are on yearly salaries of $6m-$7m in the US. But if from the next TV rights deal onwards, each club were given an extra $1m or $2m per year for a marquee player wage, that’d go a long way. You can sign a very good player when you’re offering those sort of wages. I know it’s extra money spent, but in any business you need to spend money to make money. And this extra spend will in turn make more money for the sport in the years to come with future TV broadcasting deals. " http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/03/10/10-years-in-the-a-league-must-keep-evolving/ Good friend to the Roar and all soccer fans, our very own guru, Midfielder, wrote less than a year ago: "Against this back drop A-League 10 started, with no major marquees signed, the loss of some big-name players, and the Socceroos proving a much lesser side compared to previous years. This is blow torch to the belly stuff, the kinda of test if passed over a full season will send a clear message to those funding sport in Australia – sponsors and broadcasters – that football is here to stay and grow. " http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/11/25/footballs-blow-torch-to-the-belly-year/ Ok, so how was the season just finished with no major marquee signings? In other words, the oft cited claim made by soccer fans that the A-League needs an annual infusion of star quality to maintain public and media interest appears spot on the money. Certainly our Roar gurus appear to agree with this sentiment. What do you think?
Bondy
Guest
By constantly posting on the Football Tab about a sport you clearly dislike doesn't that mean AFL is meaningless or monotonous ....
Bondy
Guest
If Aussies want to see the best in the world why does AFL rate so poorly on the eastern seaboard and also poor participation levels as well ?. Your not making sense, if people saw Aussie rules as the best form of sport they can get AFL would be neck and neck in ratings with NRL on the eastern seaboard which it clearly isn't ...
Mister Football
Roar Guru
"....many followers of the game only want to see the best of the best!!!! " are you not reinforcing the theory heard often from soccer fans that the A-League needs an annual injection of star quality to maintain public and media interest? I agree with this theory, because the metrics appear to support it, but it's actually not my theory, it's one I have heard espoused many, many times on this very board by lots of soccer fans.
C
Guest
ar, fuss is correct re a review of the best game in the world
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Point 3, no this shows that football has a very strong following in Australia & much beyond the A-League, so the potential to grow is massive. Whether it's good or bad, many followers of the game only want to see the best of the best!!!!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
What you have said actually has no relevance in the context of the oft cited view by soccer fans that the A-League needs an annual injection of star quality to maintain public and media interest. You are referring to how well some A-League teams may have performed against LFC, all I can say is: 1. how well they performed might be in the eye of the beholder; 2. serious punters would not put much store in a pre-season game; and in any event 3. the fact that the Reds have such a following in Australia and attract such big crowds for pre-season games only serves to support the oft cited view amongst soccer fans that the A-League needs an annual injection of star quality to maintain public and media interest.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
At the risk of pointing out the bleeding obvious, we are on the soccer tab, and I have merely sought to convey an oft cited theory amongst soccer fans that the A-League relies heavily on an annual injection of star quality to maintain public and media interest. I have shown some figures that appear to support this widely held view amongst soccer fans. As for broadcast rights, this is an interesting discussion in its own right, perhaps for another thread, but I'll simply say that it would probably not go along the lines that you might be hoping.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
It's MF, he changes with the wind.
jamesb
Guest
"The a league needs an injection of star quality" Yet, Victory, Roar and Adelaide have all done alright against Liverpool.Sure, Liverpool may have taken the foot off the pedal, but the A League clubs don't have the monetary budget of the Reds.