Saving FIFA from Blatter

The world today is beset with two great problems: the problem of terrorism and that of leadership. The spate of terrorism and violence the world over spells doom. Many attempts to contain this have proven to be insufficient and lacking in commitment. From east to west and north to south, the story is the same. Wherever one turns, one is confronted by conceit, presumption, violence and darkness at a time characterized by frightening eruptions of terror and religious intolerance.

The second greatest problem of the world after terrorism is leadership. The world as it is today is darkened by leadership; yet, the world as it could be can only be brightened by leadership. Leadership is a universal phenomenon and the qualities that make a good leader are essentially the same everywhere with fundamental variations as a result of cultural or institutional differences. Whether it is political leadership, students or trade unionism, social or traditional leadership, the tenets of democratic ideals should be the North Star guiding the spirit of leadership!

For the world football governing body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), this is a time when silence is not always golden. As it prepares to elect a new president on May 29, it has a dire need for new and different political phrases and ideological convictions to match the exigencies and drifts of a new FIFA.

FIFA is too big an institution to be trifled with. The aspiration of Sepp Blatter to continue to preside over the body diminishes the immense expanse of FIFA in the scheme of things. Worse still, it darkens FIFA by minimizing the democratic tenets which have been the core yearning and struggle of human nature and human institutions.

Blatter has had his own share of the controversies in FIFA having directed its affairs for 17 years. Two terms in office are enough to exhaust and print one’s bold ideas and vision on the sands of time and give way for others to also step forward into history. Effective leadership is a product of bold ideas and vision! Rather unfortunately, FIFA under Blatter appears fated to be a sad emblem of an institution smeared with corruption and enshrouded by controversy. Blatter ought to be in the vanguard of change in the global football body, insisting on the supremacy and worth of ideas and democratic order over myopism and selfish egoistic reasons. The graver effects of Blatter’s tenacious hold on power are discernible with the consequences of plunging FIFA into cataclysm! More than ever before, the delusion is complete – that FIFA is making progress! Under Blatter’s watch, FIFA has been mired in dark times and is fast sliding into a dismal institution. Besides, it is only in nations and institutions that progressively march backwards that old men with exhausted ideas lead while fresh and robust ideas rot and perish!

Sepp Blatter has been in FIFA for 40 years. His first six years were spent as technical director, the next 17 years as secretary-general, and the last 17 as president, thus fulfilling his expectations. His 1998 election to the highest position in FIFA was mired in controversy just as his re-election bid in 2002 was mired in unprecedented corruption in the annals of FIFA history reaching a high level of despair and anguish. Blatter became too powerful and conquered FIFA completely making it a dancing puppet condemned to his dictates. His antics paved the way for yet another term in office where he was nominated by only 66 out of 207 members in the 2007 elections.

Blatter has contributed his quota! It is time FIFA was redeemed from his grip. He is no longer fit and credible to continue with its leadership. If anything, when on June 1, 2011 he contested unopposed for his fourth term, his manifesto was that he would never contest again if elected. He suspended some of his opponents who expressed interest in his job and intimidated others to withdraw – an action which was widely condemned. If at this moment he cannot honour his words, he does not deserve to be called a man of honour and should be shown the way out!

His 17 years at the helm have been marked by controversy and allegations of corruption, mismanagement of funds and direct acceptance of bribery. Among the latest are his backdoor deal with Michel Platini, UEFA president, bequeathing to Europe the right to host 2018 World Cup, and the bribery that led to the success of Qatar in hosting 2022 World Cup! While contending with the cross-currents of internal politics while serving his first term in office, Michel Zen-Ruffinen, then FIFA’s secretary-general, chronicled a 30-page record of financial misappropriation in FIFA. These controversies and unprofessional conducts have diminished the magnitude of Blatter’s worth: he has been heckled repeatedly at important events. His idea that female footballers should expose their bodies while playing in order to attract male fans was and still is unbecoming of a FIFA president!

As the 2015 FIFA election hots up, the emerging signals are indications of change and hope. Though the likes of Issa Hayatou, CAF president, who, only a few days ago, amended CAF’s constitution lifting the age limit of presidential aspirants in CAF, thus paving the way for his continued stay in office after 27 years of supervising African football, are strong supporters of Blatter, they will be disillusioned! 54 African members will be voting in the election and when Hayatou announced his support for Blatter, rather than giving him the usual ovation that had previously accompanied such pronouncements, there were murmurs of disapproval and visible indifference from members, a signal that sends a clear message about what ought to be! Hayatou is not too strong a man to give Blatter African votes in block: African members gave him their back and pitched their tent with Blatter’s opponent in 1998. Even when he (Hayayou) contested against Blatter in 2002, more than 50 percent of African members voted against him.

With no fewer than three aspirants contesting against Blatter when the election comes up this month in Zurich, the die is cast; the days of intimidating opponents into silence are gone. History has indicted him and will adversely confront him too! Not even the hosting of World Cup in the African continent for the first time in 2010 under him will shield him from the reprisals of his falsehood and sham!

Uchenna Isiani