Fire FIFA

To the shock of no one (least of all FIFA), new accusations have surfaced alleging serious corruption among soccer's international governing body. Given the extent of the allegations and the years of rumored and proven abuse among FIFA's ranks, the entire board should be fired.

Blatter thinks FIFA's problem is only this big.



According to a report by the Associated Press, 6 FIFA members are accused of receiving or seeking bribes during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast allegedly received $1.5 million to vote for Qatar to get the tournament in 2022, according to the report. FIFA President Sepp Blatter responded that he is "fighting to clear FIFA" and that he will ask for evidence to support the allegations.

Blatter's lack of rage/surprise shows just how routine this alleged behavior has become with FIFA. When FIFA chose Qatar for the World Cup, just about everyone assumed that a nation with 110+ degree heat, inadequate facilities and a minor dislike of homosexuals, got the bid because they paid off some or all of FIFA. That assumption indicates a structural problem with FIFA - no one believes in the legitimacy of the bidding process, which only encourages further abuse.

By awarding the World Cup to the highest briber rather than the highest bidder, FIFA shows that it cares only about itself and not the game of soccer. If FIFA wanted to grow the game of soccer, as it has claimed, it would have capitalized on increased interest in the U.S or China. Instead, it's growing its own wallet. It's also doing a disservice to the future host country of Qatar, if Olympic history is any guide. When Greece hosted the summer games in 2004, it worked up until the final moments to have its facilities ready to go, barely completing them in time. Within 4 years after the Olympics, Greece's stadiums fell into disrepair and are now vacant. A similar fate likely awaits Qatar's facilities.  

Mohammed bin Hammam of Qatar said "FIFA is not corrupted. We are victims of the popularity of the game." That's about the weakest excuse he could have come up with and it in no way justifies or excuses FIFA's alleged behavior. A regime change is needed in the FIFA ranks, and until the entire board is overhauled, it will continue to be a corrupt organization that doesn't care much about the game it oversees.