BusinessDay, By Stuart Condie: Football in 2011 was dominated by events off the field rather than on it. FOOTBALL in 2011 was dominated by events off the field rather than on it. Barcelona and Lionel Messi continued to provide some of the most sparkling performances in the sport’s long history and Uruguay further overshadowed Brazil and Argentina at the top of the South American game, but headlines around the world were dominated by allegations of corruption and bribery at Fifa. The sport’s governing body was beset by allegations as behind-the- scenes politicking was thrust into the spotlight by the fallout from its decision last year to give future World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed as Fifa president but the year was almost out before he announced details of long- promised reforms. Blatter’s position at the top of Fifa was secured after his only rival for the presidency, Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, was forced to withdraw from the June election over bribery allegations that later led to a lifetime ban from the sport. Blatter has hinted that his new independent governance committee could examine cases including the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 event to Qatar. Even the 10-year- old kickbacks case that led to former Fifa president Joao Havelange’s resignation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is being picked over. The 95-year-old Havelange, Blatter’s mentor and predecessor, joined the IOC in 1963 and was its longest-standing member. He resigned this month, days before he faced possible suspension for allegedly taking a $1m kickback from World Cup marketing deals while Fifa president. The IOC closed its ethics investigation into Havelange after his resignation. The appointment of a University of Basel professor to spearhead reforms lends credibility to Blatter’s committee. But whether a body widely criticised for a lack of transparency and accountability can be persuaded of the need for comprehensive change remains to be seen. Blatter was forced to apologise last month for causing outrage among players, officials and even sponsors by suggesting that racial incidents between players on the field could be settled by a handshake at the end of a game. The topic of racism surfaced several times through the year, with England captain John Terry and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez both accused of abusing opponents, while France coach Laurent Blanc came close to resigning following a row about quotas at training academies. Blanc acknowledged that his crude language in a conversation with French Football Federation colleagues was wrong and offensive, but said the debate over whether dual nationals of African descent should be in the French system remained valid. Blanc was cleared of discrimination by the French football body. Another immediate challenge facing Blatter and Fifa is the state of Brazil’s preparations to host the 2014 World Cup, which are mired in infighting, corruption allegations and a simple lack of progress. Organising committee head Ricardo Teixeira — himself linked to the ISL kickback case that claimed Havelange — was embroiled in allegations of bribery and money laundering that saw Brazil sports minister Orlando Silva forced out in October. The Brazilian government has yet to pass the necessary laws to allow the country to stage the tournament, and stadium construction is behind schedule. "The executive committee is worried about that," Blatter said. "I will myself take up the World Cup in a presidential level and in the first or second month of next year I will go and meet the head of state." And in a sign of the tensions between various factions, Teixeira snubbed Pele from the 2014 qualifying draw in Rio in July only to see President Dilma Rouseff appoint the former national team great as her government’s World Cup ambassador. Read Full: BusinessDay - Corruption, kickbacks, politics and racial abuse mar soccer’s year
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Corruption, kickbacks, politics and racial abuse mar soccer’s year
BusinessDay, By Stuart Condie: Football in 2011 was dominated by events off the field rather than on it. FOOTBALL in 2011 was dominated by events off the field rather than on it. Barcelona and Lionel Messi continued to provide some of the most sparkling performances in the sport’s long history and Uruguay further overshadowed Brazil and Argentina at the top of the South American game, but headlines around the world were dominated by allegations of corruption and bribery at Fifa. The sport’s governing body was beset by allegations as behind-the- scenes politicking was thrust into the spotlight by the fallout from its decision last year to give future World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed as Fifa president but the year was almost out before he announced details of long- promised reforms. Blatter’s position at the top of Fifa was secured after his only rival for the presidency, Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, was forced to withdraw from the June election over bribery allegations that later led to a lifetime ban from the sport. Blatter has hinted that his new independent governance committee could examine cases including the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 event to Qatar. Even the 10-year- old kickbacks case that led to former Fifa president Joao Havelange’s resignation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is being picked over. The 95-year-old Havelange, Blatter’s mentor and predecessor, joined the IOC in 1963 and was its longest-standing member. He resigned this month, days before he faced possible suspension for allegedly taking a $1m kickback from World Cup marketing deals while Fifa president. The IOC closed its ethics investigation into Havelange after his resignation. The appointment of a University of Basel professor to spearhead reforms lends credibility to Blatter’s committee. But whether a body widely criticised for a lack of transparency and accountability can be persuaded of the need for comprehensive change remains to be seen. Blatter was forced to apologise last month for causing outrage among players, officials and even sponsors by suggesting that racial incidents between players on the field could be settled by a handshake at the end of a game. The topic of racism surfaced several times through the year, with England captain John Terry and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez both accused of abusing opponents, while France coach Laurent Blanc came close to resigning following a row about quotas at training academies. Blanc acknowledged that his crude language in a conversation with French Football Federation colleagues was wrong and offensive, but said the debate over whether dual nationals of African descent should be in the French system remained valid. Blanc was cleared of discrimination by the French football body. Another immediate challenge facing Blatter and Fifa is the state of Brazil’s preparations to host the 2014 World Cup, which are mired in infighting, corruption allegations and a simple lack of progress. Organising committee head Ricardo Teixeira — himself linked to the ISL kickback case that claimed Havelange — was embroiled in allegations of bribery and money laundering that saw Brazil sports minister Orlando Silva forced out in October. The Brazilian government has yet to pass the necessary laws to allow the country to stage the tournament, and stadium construction is behind schedule. "The executive committee is worried about that," Blatter said. "I will myself take up the World Cup in a presidential level and in the first or second month of next year I will go and meet the head of state." And in a sign of the tensions between various factions, Teixeira snubbed Pele from the 2014 qualifying draw in Rio in July only to see President Dilma Rouseff appoint the former national team great as her government’s World Cup ambassador. Read Full: BusinessDay - Corruption, kickbacks, politics and racial abuse mar soccer’s year