THERE’S A NEW SECRETARY GENERAL AT FIFA, AND ONE CAN SENSE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES ARE AFOOT. BUT IS THAT ENOUGH FOR AN ORGANISATION MIRED IN CORRUPTION AND HUBRIS?
NOVY KAPADIA// Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura of Senegal is the first woman and first African to be appointed as the new secretary general of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). This is a positive sign, since it shows FIFA means business by bringing in a newcomer who is not tainted by any sordid money deals or association with the past corruption in FIFA. When a 45- year-old Swiss Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino or Gianni Infantino replaced an 80-year-old Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in February 2016, it did not guarantee a change of culture. Infantino has worked as deputy general secretary of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) (2007-09), and general secretary of UEFA (2009-16), so he was not directly associated with Blatter. However, he was very close to Michel Platini, the banned UEFA president and so there were doubts that there would be changes in FIFA.
However by appointing a woman and a newcomer as the new secretary general, Infantino shows that he means serious business and wants a change of culture.
Fatma and Infantino have to initiate several reforms. The most important is to replace the executive committee with a 36-member FIFA Council, which includes a minimum of six women. Also they have to ensure that the FIFA president and other top officials are limited to three terms, each of four years. Fatma can be successful if she initiates such reforms.
As part of his election campaign, Infantino had promised an expansion of development cash and a 40-team World Cup. If he can ensure more money is delivered to various countries but there is also accountability on how it is spent, the clean-up act in FIFA will be noticed and taken seriously. Structural reforms must be taken quickly before FIFA's image changes. A newcomer Fatma, and Infantino, with his legal background, are best suited to restore FIFA's credibility.
When Infantino was elected, there was hope he would use his legal background to sort out the new challenges in Zurich. To restore the credibility of FIFA is his most important task, he started on a positive note.
Infantino’s first formal trip as FIFA president saw him fly to Bristol for the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board with budget airline EasyJet rather than Sepp Blatter’s preference for a luxurious private jet. This sent the right signals that FIFA is on the reforms path, especially when Infantino said all officials should optimise the costs.
He also attended a conference, Women in Football, and the premiership match Swansea City vs Norwich City, dressed casually and without a tie. This was also significant as it stressed Infantino was serious about resurrecting FIFA’s image. He wants FIFA officials to behave like fans and not like politicians. Small steps like these have started restoring FIFA's credibility. It shows that Infantino is not getting distracted by the luxury, importance, perks and privileges of being FIFA president.
Another important decision he has taken is to reduce his salary. Sepp Blatter as executive president of FIFA was top of the pay scale. But Infantino as president has accepted a pay scale much less than that of Blatter.
Infantino and Samoura have to take more bold steps. The most important being that commercial decisions must be taken by professionals hired by FIFA and not by the FIFA council. It was when decisions regarding lucrative TV rights and choosing a host for the World Cup were decided by the select FIFA council that members became susceptible to corruption. Not just that, this culture of corruption had been allowed to fester unchecked throughout Blatter's 18-year reign.
The image of corruption in FIFA has to be removed so that sponsors can regain trust, which will lead to an increase in revenue stream.
GHAUS MOHD// Despite charges of bribery, match fixing and corruption, FIFA stands like a mountain. None can match it in status and stature. In fact, its election is no less than the United States Presidential election. Countries vie to have their representatives hold the highest position. But corruption takes a toll on most of them. In 2011, Bin Hammam of Qatar stood for the race but had to bow out as he faced suspension on bribery charges. He was later banned for life on these charges.
Hammam was Sepp Blatter’s strongest contender and was also instrumental in securing the 2022 World Cup Football in Qatar. Ironically, Blatter, and one of the greatest footballers and UEFA president Michel Platini, two of the most powerful figures in global football, have been barred from FIFA for eight years.
Clichéd yet true, the world is round. While Blatter enjoyed Hammam’s suspension, the beneficiary was Gianni Infantino, the current FIFA president.
Blatter was instrumental in the World Cup being held in South Africa, Brazil and Russia, and the one to be held in Qatar in 2022, despite opposition from European nations. He may have obliged some members to get favourable votes to organise these tournaments in Asian countries such as Qatar. But then what’s wrong with that? It is in the interest of the Asian countries, since most European countries anyway feel the World Cup is their right.
It is all well and good if Infantino feels the new Secretary General Fatma Samba Diouf Samouracan brings transparency and accountability to FIFA. But there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. FIFA funding countries to promote football is a fine gesture but once the federation parts with the money it never looks back to see how the funds are being used. It is satisfied by the reports provided by a member. Is that enough?
For instance in India, where football was peaking at one time, the situation is not so hunky dory. The introduction of license certificate courses by FIFA/ Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has brought down the standard of football. Now only the players who pass these licensed courses are looked at. Gone are the days when coaches used to pull out outstanding players from the grassroot level.
India had immense football talent in rural areas. Except in the north east, where local sports coaches manage to find hidden local talent, the sport and footballers are non-existent in Punjab, South, Rajasthan and many other parts of the country.
I feel along with institutional football, tournaments or leagues should be held at an all- India level. And if these players are not given jobs under sports quota in public and government sector nothing much will change for them. And the game will be the loser.
FIFA should also leave the privilege of selecting coaches for clubs and national teams to the member countries. This way, a lot of local talent will get a platform to prove their prowess. I feel FIFA should not force coaches to pass license course since this could be a deterrent for many suitable candidates. The new secretary general should see how funds are used by member countries and whether it is helping raise the standard of football. Merely changing the officials is not of importance. What is important is to ensure that the deep-rooted problems are addressed and corruption erased from the system. It is a long haul but it could spell good times from countries like India too. Jai Hind!