Yesterday was a fascinating exercise where I suggested David Gallop was an ideal presidential candidate for FIFA, the governing body of the undisputed biggest sport in the world.
Round ball supporters were almost unanimous I had the temerity to make a suggestion at all, let alone put Gallop up as a candidate.
I strongly stand by that suggestion as Gallop would be a breath of fresh air in an organisation that doesn’t go anywhere near passing the sniff test.
What surprised me were the fanatics who point blank refuse to admit there is something radically wrong with FIFA, right from the top.
And it starts with the election every five years of the FIFA president, arguably the most powerful sporting appointment on the planet.
And that job will only be filled by someone within the FIFA ‘family’. There’s no way FIFA will ever let anyone from outside that ‘family’ into the inner sanctum to find out where the bones are buried – and what happens to the reported two billion dollars of annual income.
That’s why Gallop, or anyone like him, has Buckley’s of being nominated, no matter how brilliant they’d be at the job.
During my watch there have been three FIFA presidents – Englishman Sir Stanley Rous from 1955 to 1974, Brazilian Dr Joao Havelange from 1974 to 1998, and Sepp Blatter from 1998 to now – at least until February 26 next year.
Not one of them has passed the sniff test.
Sir Stanley was a referee who controlled the 1934 FA Cup final at Wembley between Man City and Portsmouth among a career of 34 internationals.
But he will be remembered for being a strong supporter of South Africa’s Apartheid policy that eventually brought about his rightful downfall.
Havelange was an unsuccessful 400 and 1500 freestyler at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, a water polo rep at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, and the chef-de-mission at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Havelange became the first non-European FIFA president in 1974, but he will be remembered for his close association and formation of International Sport and Leisure (ISL) that was established to market the rights to the 1986 FIFA World Cup and beyond.
In the wash-up, Havelange resigned from the IOC in 2011 when he was 95, the resignation timed just before a court case that was to hear allegations of his corruption, enbezzlement and laundering of money out of ISL.
And who was Havelange’s side-kick for 17 years as FIFA’s general secretary?
Sepp Blatter.
When Blatter was canvassing the world seeking support to win the FIFA presidency in 1998, he told Oceania that included Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands that the winner of Oceania would automatically be guaranteed entry into the World Cup if they voted for him.
That they did, but Blatter immediately went back on his word once he won.
In short, Blatter’s word wasn’t worth the air that carried it.
History will eventually reveal the extent of Blatter’s major shortcomings, it’s only a matter of time.
But it’s worthwhile recalling one in particular on Blatter’s watch – Chuck Blazer.
He was the general secretary of CONCACAF, the organisation that’s responsible for 31 Caribbean countries, seven from Central America, and three from North America.
CONCACAF offices are in Miami, but Florida didn’t have enough attraction for the lavish Blazer so he chose to live in New York, where there was a lot more action.
CONCACAF not only paid for Blazer to regularly commute between New York and Miami and return, but paid $18,500 a month rental for a condo in New York in the expensive Trump Towers.
That was just the start.
CONCACAF also paid an extra $6000 a month for an attached condo where the only occupants were Blazer’s unruly cats.
Roarers, only the tip of the corruption iceberg has surfaced at FIFA.
So put your seatbelts on, it promises to be a mighty rough ride for ‘The beautiful game’.
bryan
Guest
I did say "the previous thread"! Both Fuss & bondy posted several times about the alleged shortcomings of the AFL. Totally off topic,as David Gallop,whatever his sporting past,doesn't have any AFL links as far as I know! :)
woodo
Guest
We can talk figures but, you know what? Go there. And I don't mean the cities either, go and see the real Brazil that is in many parts still a third world country, and you will realise just how much could be done with 11b. Cheers. Also, the Nepalese? I'd love to hear the justification there if you have one.
Swampy
Guest
Brazil's GDP is around USD$2.4 trillion. The 2014 World Cup generated about $13 billion in revenue in Brazil and cost by most estimates around $11 billion. Are you suggesting the alternative to hosting the profitable World Cup in Brazil was to institute a health care system safety net? The World Cup might be a large event but I'm pretty sure the economics of a national healthcare system in a country with a population of 200 million people is a slightly bigger spend than $11b.
Freddie
Guest
Orgy? One line from one poster? On the article itself, sorry David, but most people have rightly called you out on the Gallop suggestion, not because he's necessarily incapable, but because it's a rather typical argument from an Australian writer to put forward one of their own. The problem in this instance, is that (as many posters have pointed out), FIFA is not the NRL, nor even cricket, where everyone knows each other. This is the biggest sport in the world, and even someone as competent (and confident) as John O'Neill admitted his surprise and utter confusion as to how the game of football worked on a worldwide basis. He knew he had been made to look like an utter novice, and I'm not just talking about corruption. This seems to constantly confuse those who have only grown up with the Australian way of doing things. Central contracts, salary caps, squad limits, no transfer fees, lack of promotion/relegation etc etc etc. Football is, essentially, a law unto itself because of its sheer size, and thus, yes, it is susceptible to the sort of corruption we have seen at FIFA. No football fan pretends FIFA is clean. It would be laughable to suggest otherwise. But to state that a little-known administrator, fresh to the game and probably (like O'Neill) still finding his way in FIFA circles, could take on the top job itself is equally laughable. You'll find that FFA is trying very hard to integrate itself into first regional, then world, circles. We have Moya Dodd on the FIFA ExCo, and various others sitting on lesser high-profile committees at the AFC. That's about as much as Australia can achieve for the time being. Eventually, when Australia is builds its world profile, and gains more traction in the decision-making circles, then it may be time to put forward a candidate. We are miles and miles away from that scenario at the moment, for the simple reason that no-one would either endorse, or vote for an Australian candidate. A final point. Why on earth would the decision-makers in football vote for someone from a country where other codes actively work against it? We have to earn our stripes, and until Australia as a nation recognizes just how big this game is, we'll remain on the sidelines. Being "world" beaters in Rugby League and cricket cuts little ice with the rest of the world. That's not a dig, it's a fact.
bryan
Guest
What is the most interesting phenomenon is how the previous thread morphed into an AFL-bashing orgy. conchie's comment seems to be taking this one the same way. :)
conchie
Roar Rookie
I am pretty sure David Lord is a AFL plant, how dare he comment on soccer.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Just saw this article. Saw the author's name & face earlier today & assumed it was the same ignorant article from yesterday. But, no there's more. The author is upset because football fans understand the Fifa Statues that govern the way our Game is administered and, unlike sports that are either only played in AUS, or played amongst a small group of ex-British colonies, the Statutes can't be changed unless the majority of the planet agrees to the change. So, yeah .. it's unlikely anyone from outside the the Fifa family will ever be Fifa President - no matter whether some journo from AUS thinks your dad was good bloke - Fifa wouldn't give a stuff. Isn't it odd that we're in the midst of the Ashes - the biggest cricket event in the world and a cricket journo is focusing on Fifa issues? Only last week the Indian legal system suspended 2 cricket clubs playing in the world's richest cricket competition for match fixing. Maybe a football journo - Les Murray could write an article listing the corrupt behaviour amongst the cricket fraternity ... oh wait. Les probably couldn't give a stuff about cricket. You'd think a cricket journo would have enough to focus on in the world of cricket.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
How the mighty has fallen.
Justin Mahon
Guest
Nail - head.
Justin Mahon
Guest
You wrote an incredibly bizzare article. You got called out for it like anyone else who might write such a silly piece. However, 24hours later The Roar run a 'right of reply' to your own article in which you refuse to refer to the game by its name and you insult people who called your article for what it was, all while attacking a 'straw man' about people denying any corruption in FOFA at the top. And you wonder why your are a joke in our community. Seriously. Stop embarrassing yourself.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
You do surprise me Rick, well played sir!!!!
woodo
Guest
There are some Nepalese construction workers who might disagree with you. Also a lot of under-priveleged Brazilians who could have done with some health care in the last five odd years.
woodo
Guest
Well in mate.
woodo
Guest
Should I feel proud or nerdy that I got the SOIAF reference?
marcel
Guest
and hes never given anyone free tomato sauce in his life
c
Guest
bill the consequences of concussions and head trauma are a serious issue which are gaining greater validity each year
Swampy
Guest
The only possible reason I would care about what FIFA do with their millions is for the cost of my kids to play. However, the FIFA component of each and every registration is minute compared to the undisclosed breakdown of the remaining portion of fees. There is a bigger local story there if any journo can be bothered. If Coca Cola, McDonalds, Sony etc want to give the FIFA committee members millions to ensure their brands are those seen at the world cup I couldn't care less. It must be remembered, while FIFA committee members pocket millions of dollars, the amount of income they receive as an organisation is in the billions of dollars. FIFA have actually put much of this to good use in third world nations. I'm no Sepp Blatter fan, nor do I agree with the FIFA ethics. But he's no Robert Mugabe or Josef Zuma or even a Thaksin Shiniwatra. What Blatter has stolen hasn't created abject poverty at the grass roots level and the game certainly isn't poorer for his presence.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
excellent post ...
Kaks
Roar Guru
In fairness, he does run a great chip shop. He can seamlessly help run diplomatic relations around the world.
marcel
Guest
So will tomorrows article be about nominating the bloke who owns your local Chippo as Secretary General of the UN?