The football industry is corrupt. You know this, we all know this. The nature of the institutions who govern the sport, combined with the enormous amounts of money the industry is now worth, is a toxic cocktail.
A few minutes ago the Fifa Ethics Committee provisionally banned Fifa president, Sep Blatter, Uefa president (and Fifa vice-president) Michel Platini, as well as Fifa Secretary General, Jermoe Valcke, for 90 days pending an investigation. Former Fifa VP, Chung Moon-joon has been banned from the game for 6 years and fined. Chung and Platini both remain candidates to succeed Blatter as Fifa president – yes, it’s that dysfunctional.
This may be the beginning of the end for football’s great Oligarch Administrators, who lived like Saudi princes, paid for by the money which slushes around the game, but it is far from assured that football is now on the right path. Blatter, the embodiment of everything which is wrong with sport and business to many, remains a hugely popular figure. Some of the games administrators, themselves untouched by corruption, shed tears when he recently announced his decision to retire.
The core problem is one of democracy. Fifa is a democratic organisation, which on the face of it sounds like a good thing, but democracy has its drawbacks. One member one vote affords the British Virgin Islands the same weight when it comes to exercising ultimate control as Germany. Apart from hosting the World Cup once every 40 years or so, Fifa can offer Germany little tangible support, but the governing body can metaphorically pave the streets of tiny nations with gold.
Fifa executives, and Blatter in particular, have enormous patronage under their control. Blatter is personally responsible for the decision to ‘support the game’ in many small nations and protectorates, by funding the construction of expensive stadiums and facilities. These amenities are great for the recipient nations, often well beyond anything the local FA or government could afford. Blatter has been The Great Facilitator to many far-flung entities. That patronage buys loyalty and genuine affection.
The problem is not limited to the Fifa executive. Administrators at all levels of the senior game enjoy control over a degree of patronage. Merely becoming an office holder at your FA makes you a dignitary of some sort. There will be an expense account, doors will open, facilities made available.
Football’s problem is that its structure made it inevitable that corrupt individuals would eventually take control. Cutting the head off Fifa will not be sufficient to change that, the way football funds itself also needs to change – and that would inevitably mean less money going to poor places in the world. If accountability replaces patronage, Blatter’s largess to underfunded Associations would end. The game would be cleaner, but there are 100 FAs with skin in the game who stand to lose, so assume nothing.
Take a look at the work of Joseph Gormley, a Scots-born artist in the US, who has raised over $170k for various charities. His is another great tale in the story of the Celtic support.
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South of Tunis
Big Jock was part-time manager of Scotland in 1965.
Hexham 445 Shine a Diamond
Nap
Good luck everyone
ravens hill 4.20 limerick
Lads, CQN naps on here today please…
I’m travelling today, so will do a double update later tonight or tomorrow.
C’mon the Jocks in the egg-chasing !
Cheers, fleagle1888
I was intending to ditch the flat for the real racing… but seeing as Gordon Elliott has sneaked one in at the bottom of the handicap, in a race with Willie Mullins, David Pipe, and Tony Martin runners… it feels like an NH race.
BAYAN [Newmarket 3.50)
Good luck y’all… fleagle1888
Highland Acclaim
3.25pm York please
Balty Boys 17:35 @ Newmarket.
Noble Silk 3:50 Newmarket…..got a few quid e/w on this
Hail Mary selection,good luck everyone.
3.25 Newmarket – Highland Acclaim for me today……all the best to all
Cheers GFTB
The Liquidator 4.30 Chepstow. Good luck everyone.
Emotionless 3.10 Newmarket
MOSCATO 350 Newmarket.
Quick Jack New 3.50
Newmarket 15:50 – Angel Gabrial
Happy Punting
Morning Lhads …was going to with willie o orange,but didn’t want barred…
….so I will choose Lord Franklin 5.10 YORK. HH N good luck.
Oriental Fox in 3.50 Newmarket
HIGHLAND ACCLAIM 325 NEW.
15:25 @ York – Eccleston – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Today’s Nap
DESERTMORE HILL
2:10 @ CHPSTOW
York 1.45
Arthenus
Hope all you lhads going to the hoot have a great day. Was considering going but off shortly to a smoker in armadale.
Jumping is back so Nicholls on a Saturday
Cowards Close 5.05 Chepstow NAP
Eurochamps 67
Earth Drummer 2:15 York
Audacious plan 505 Chepstow
4.00 York. Timeless Art
Good luck!
Emotionless 3.10 Newmarket
HH
George Bowen 3.25 at York please
15:25 York
Golden Steps
HH.
Stroll Patrol in the 5:00 at Newmarket.
T4
2:35 Newmarket BEACON ROCK
Good luck guys.
Burgas – Balty Boys a NR in last at Newmarket!
T4
Afternoon all.
Gifted Master. Newmarket 2.35.
Be lucky fholks.
GOLDEN AMBER 5:00 Newmarket
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
TBM… what happened to Silver ?
TOMMYTWISTSTOMMYTURNS on 10TH OCTOBER 2015 1:04 PM
Burgas – Balty Boys a NR in last at Newmarket!
Just spotted mate….thanks.
Hors De Combat was my 2nd choice so i’ll jump on that wan (17:35 @ Newmarket)
Woodacre
1710 York
Shrewd in the York 5:10 For me
Good Luck All
Hail Hail.