It is no longer news that world football governing body, FIFA, is completely enmeshed in corruption that has already consumed some of its renowned executive committee members.
What is however news is the general apprehension in the air over what would become of the once revered body when the dust raised by the prevailing allegations and proven cases of bribery and corruption settle down.
At the moment, there is no doubting the fact FIFA has been stripped of everything that has to do with integrity and credibility. The allegations of corruption which have brought FIFA on its knees came to the fore as far back as 2010 shortly after Russia and Qatar won the hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
Some aggrieved contenders alleged foul play in the voting that produced the two winners. After investigations, some members of the FIFA Executive Committee were indicted over ‘money for vote’ and subsequently punished. Nigeria’s Dr. Amos Adamu was one of those indicted and he was handed a three year ban from all football related activities beginning from 2010 to 2013.
Former vice-president of FIFA, Jack Warner who became so popular for all the wrong reasons would also came under the sledgehammer of the ethics committee sometime this year when he was banned for life from football.
And early this month, there was a new twist in the FIFA crisis when the International Olympic Committee added to the growing cries for independent reform, with its president, Thomas Bach, declaring “enough is enough” and calling for an external candidate to take over.
“FIFA must realise that this is now about more than just a list of candidates. This is also a structural problem and will not be solved simply by the election of a new president,” Bach said.
As if responding to the ‘order’ from the IOC, on October 8, the Ethics Committee of FIFA suspended both president, Jospeh Sepp Blatter and UEFA president, Michel Platini for 90 days.
Both Blatter and Platini had been under extreme pressure since the Swiss Attorney General, Michael Lauber, opened a criminal investigation into allegations the Swiss FIFA president mis-sold a World Cup TV rights contract to the disgraced former FIFA official Jack Warner in 2006.
He is also alleged to have made a “disloyal payment” of £1.3m to Platini, against the interests of FIFA, in 2011. Blatter and Platini, who has been interviewed as “somewhere between a witness and the accused”, deny any wrongdoing.
In addition, the FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, who has already been put on leave over allegations concerning the sale of World Cup tickets, was also provisionally banned for 90 days. FIFA said the suspensions could be extended for 45 days at the discretion of the ethics committee while investigations continue.
Apart from the suspension of the three powerful men in FIFA, the Ethics Committee is not done with its investigation of previously suspended members of the international body. Although he has finished serving his suspension, Amos Adamu is under investigation once again. He is not alone as some other FIFA men with questions to answer are being investigated.
From events that have unfolded, FIFA has been unmasked by allegations of corruption but some people are of the view that it will in the end help in repositioning the organisation. Unfortunately, men like Platini who would have championed the remaking of FIFA are neck deep in corruption.
At the moment, there appears to be only three visible and serious contenders for Blatter’s job. There is Platini, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and Shaikh Salam bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa who is expected to declare his candidacy before the Monday deadline.
Two Nigerians, former international, Chief Segun Odegbami and former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu are also interested in succeeding Blatter. From all indications, the hurdles before them are enormous.
However, if acting president of FIFA, Isa Hayatau fails to convene an extra ordinary congress that would shift the February 26 date, elections would hold as scheduled.
Will the crisis that has hit FIFA be the remaking of an important sport body that has become notorious for blatant corruption? Former chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima told SHOT! that the startling revelations in FIFA are good for football.
He explained that in future, those to be entrusted with the responsibility of administering the world’s number one sport would learn to be mindful of their actions.
“Some much damage has been done to the image of FIFA. It is an embarrassing situation. What has happened is definitely going to affect the future of the game. Africa which depends more on allocations from FIFA will be worst hit by the ongoing crisis.
“Sponsors would lose interest in putting money into FIFA. However, it is good that such sordid acts are being exposed. This will serve as lesson for those who would come in”.
Galadima therefore said FIFA will ultimately benefit from the ongoing upheavals because people will know that there is a day of judgement.
Also a former Secretary General of the then Nigeria Football Association and former Bauchi State commissioner of sports, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Toro said what is going on will not help football.
He said even as nobody can deny the fact Blatter has contributed immensely to the development of football, especially on the continent of Africa, he should first clear himself of the allegations against him.
Toro also said Blatter started as Technical Director of FIFA before rising to become its General Secretary and president and so nothing should be done to rubbish his dedicated service which spanned over 17 years.
“Such allegations of corruption will not augur well for football. My candid advice is that those making the allegations should take it easy and ensure that it does not affect the teeming youth who intend to make a living from football.
“Blatter has made verifiable and valid contributions and should not be rubbished. My worry is that the acting president of FIFA Isa Hayatau has not come out to say election slated for February 26 will not hold.
“I think with the prevailing circumstances, elections on the said date may not produce any credible successor for Blatter,” he said.
From the foregoing, the future is gloomy for FIFA as the search for more credible individuals to take over the mantle of leadership for the much needed reinvention of the international sport body is not promising.
