Reviews

Actually, Sepp Blatter Is a Mistake

5/17/2014

There have never been protests like this before a World Cup

The man dithers and prattles. In any multinational corporation, he would have been long gone, not because of right and wrong but because he was bad for business, bad for image, bad for selling lethal cars or whatever the company was doing.

But Sepp Blatter, the head of FIFA, the world soccer body, goes on and on. Now he is threatening to run for another term, even before the World Cup takes place in Brazil under very dicey circumstances next month.

Blatter’s latest foolishness was saying the other day that choosing Qatar for the 2022 World Cup was a “mistake.” You make mistakes in life, he said, talking about awarding a World Cup to a nation without a football heritage but lots of oil money to grease FIFA delegates.

Some of the people who voted for Qatar have since been banned for improprieties. Yet Blatter insists the 2022 World Cup was not bought and sold. Just a “mistake.” The executive voters did not notice that it gets hot in Qatar in summer.

Blatter’s handlers have since chimed in, as they often must, to note that he never said Qatar would be replaced.

Blatter used to be known for merely sexist and inane comments. FIFA should hold the World Cup every year or two. Female players should wear tight uniforms. Now he is about to preside over the most political protests ever seen in a World Cup – and he has insured a scandalous World Cup in Qatar, a nation that allows mistreatment of migrant workers.

Fortunately, Andrew Jennings is still raking the muck.

Jeremy Schaap did a great report on the deaths of migrant workers, on ESPN a few days ago.

Dave Zirin of The Nation has been all over FIFA.

And Wright Thompson of ESPN has been in Brazil, producing prose and videos about a nation where a major swath of citizens has identified FIFA and futebol – and the government -- as a problem, not just a big quadrennial party.

Blatter has been found out. Yet he keeps talking – and getting re-elected. Speaking of mistakes.

Sepp Blatter, left. Soccer ball, right.

Alan Rubin link

5/17/2014 03:11:16 am

George

Andrew Tansey expressed a desire in your World Cup heating up in Brooklyn post that we boycott FIFA to send a message. Pressure will not come from us mere fans, but from powerful people and public pressure.

This has become a human rights issue and the the people George mentioned will be joined by others to keep Blattner's feet to the fire.

I'm optimistically waiting for the money boys of soccer to weigh in, especially now that public pressure is building. EPL, UEFA and the other major professional leagues would be greatly disrupted by moving 2022 to the winter and they may also balk at sending exhausted players into Qatar's furnace after their physically demanding seasons. In addition to the health of the players, they are their investment.

It is time for the world soccer establishment to stand up to FIFA and Blattner and demand change.

It some times hurts a little when you stand up to a bully, but if you are not intiminated--the bully usually backs down.

George Vecsey

5/17/2014 04:01:18 am

Alan, you are in a good place to foment. Keep in touch. GV

John McDermott

5/17/2014 04:16:56 am

The old pattern continues of Blatter shooting from the lip and the FIFA communications department soon thereafter issuing a communiqué to "clarify" the President's latest ill-thought-out and potentially embarrassing utterance. Some things never change. Blatter continues to rule because he learned from his predecessor, the corrupt Brazilian water polo player "Doctor" Joao Havelange, that the global "democracy" of FIFA is easily manipulated by the doling out of benefits, favors, privileges, but mostly cold hard cash to the people who vote. Since the majority of the FIFA's members are small countries in underdeveloped regions it's been a successful strategy to cultivate loyalty, even as a dozen or so executive committee members(you know, the ones who picked Qatar to host the World Cup)have been shown the door and/or investigated by civil authorities for things like tax fraud, accepting bribes and general malfeasance. They used to call Ronald Reagan the Teflon President, but Reagan couldn't hold a candle to Blatter when it comes to the crap not sticking to him. Arch crook Jack Warner and his bag man Chuck Blazer, two of Blatter's principal lackeys, go down in a storm of embarrassing charges and acrimony? No problem for Seppi. He sails on, untouched by the scandal. He reminds of that police chief in Casablanca who was shocked, SHOCKED, to discover that gambling was going on in his town behind his back. I believe that only when a major sponsor such as adidas or Visa intervenes in a serious way and demands greater transparency under the threat of withdrawal from FIFA will we see real reform. But I would not hold my breath. They are all making too mud money with things as they are. The ascension Sunil Gulati to the FIFA executive committee was a positive development, but his slow and cautious approach can be frustrating to those who are hoping for any kind of rapid change. Meanwhile, Blatter, the arch-clown of the world's most popular(and profitable)sport has finally announced what everyone who understands the beast already knew, that he will run for President yet again, because his "mission is not yet accomplished". I'm betting no one will have the nerve to run against him. Recent history says that running against Blatter only leads to a sad end. The only potential candidate who might have the ability to unseat him is UEFA President Michel Platini but frankly speaking he really isn't much of an improvement. To me FIFA is a little bit like the Titanic at this point. With the saturation of the TV market with soccer and the rise in popularity of international club competitions, the big clubs mostly sporting rosters of international superstars, combined with the expansion of the World Cup to include too many national teams of dubious quality, FIFA's flagship competition has been diluted and lost some of its lustre. Arguably the UEFA Champions League is now the competition that has the most global appeal and it is an ANNUAL event. National teams just aren't as important as they used to be. FIFA is heading for that iceberg. It's still not too late to bring in a new captain and change course. But time is running out quickly. How this World Cup in Brazil plays out will have a lot to do with what happens next.

George Vecsey

5/17/2014 07:35:42 am

Platini sold out the US during the Qatar vote. Pressure from Sarko.
How does one say "weasel" in French?
Jack Warner was a master -- gave money to small Carib nations, in exchange for votes,
When they finally caught him, Blatter was shocked.
The IOC has some idealists. FIFA none.
GV

Andy Tansey

5/20/2014 01:00:18 am

In reverse order:

1. FIFA has and had some idealists. FIFA's reach goes all the way down to granddaughters and sons playing in local soccer leagues under the auspices of, e.g., ENYYSA, in turn USSF, in turn FIFA. Can the little people start a movement or revolution, as in the manner of joining together in increasing groups to sing Alice's Restaurant to end the draft? Can change come from the bottom up or within FIFA at all? It's complicated.

2. Agreed. The Champions League is the highest quality competition on the face of the earth. It has the benefit of a lineup of All Star teams with the All Stars from every nation, practiced and playing weekly in the same sides. It speaks to the dilution of the World Cup. Too many quality European nations are excluded. That militates in favor of INCREASING the number of teams in the World Cup or decreasing the number of outliers from other Federations like CONCACAF and those in Oceania, Africa and Asia ( and South America?). It's complicated.

3. My point about boycott - as though we could change things from the bottom up - was not very serious. Rather it was a way to express a moral dilemma. The rights of the workers in Qatar are trampled. FIFA will not even mention it as an issue. It's all about the heat. I agree with the sentiment here that change cannot come from within an organization that gives such creedence to Blather. Can I in good conscience sit and watch and buy the sponsors' products? It is a personal question. It's complicated.

Maybe change can come from the powerful sponsors outside FIFA. What can we do?

I like to believe that my years of obsession with football have a noble purpose, that it really is a very positive force around a world where even different forms of belief in God justify inhumanity. It's complicated.

George Vecsey

5/20/2014 01:49:43 am

Andy, I agree. FIFA will only change when sponsors and networks speak up. Like the sponsors that fled Sterling and the Clippers.
Groups like FIFA -- and GM -- and the robber banks -- do not understand shame until it becomes financial, that is, personal.
Up to now, corporations have looked the other way on FIFA, but Brazil and the scandals of the Blatter era may focus people a bit.
Best, GV

bruce

5/21/2014 11:39:48 am

andy, be careful what you wish for. if they do more to get so so teams out of the world cup, it might be some time before the usa qualifies. be interesting to see how they'd do if they were in an all Europe group or had to meet the team or teams that didn't make it thru Europe....

John McDermott

5/20/2014 07:18:02 am

Only when the shit starts to stick to Visa, Hyundai, adidas, Coca Cola, Sony and Emirates are we likely to see a strong reaction and pressure for real reform. But do the leaders of any of these companies have the guts to do what Dave D'Alessandro of John Hancock did with the IOC. When you think about how Visa conspired with FIFA to dump Mastercard I would say it isn't likely. But we can hope. Qatar is key, both because of the stupidity(and likely corruption)of choosing to play the WC in the Arabian desert and, more importantly, because of the abuse of the guest workers in Qatar who are building the stadiums and other infrastructure. Even Blatter, who was never shamed by the serially embarrassing shenanigans of a Jack Warner, must have a limit.

bruce

5/20/2014 02:49:18 pm

George,

certainly nailed blatter. been a disgrace for quite some time.

I read mcginniss's first book in my late teens. thought it was a great work. surprised that you never crossed paths. I recall being amazed when I read the henry fonda and Hepburn had never met until they made on golden pond. both liberals with virtually contemporary careers.

of course, i'd heard of Cohen's 'hallelujah' but had never listened to ANY version until a month or two ago. when I did, I choose kd lang. gorgeous version. lang's voice is incredible. montreal and consort, alberta on the prairies combining for a beautiful song. thought her duet with roy orbison for crying was mesmerizing. finally, to digress to soccer again, it's hard to comprehend that some club teams are still playing with the world club starting so soon.....

cheers,

bruce

George Vecsey

5/21/2014 12:31:52 am

Bruce, thanks for the comments. That entire KD Lang Canadian CD is marvelous.
You have introduced a great category -- people who never met, or did not meet for a long time.
As for wearing down soccer players, I do a whole riff on that in my book, describing the French team in 2002 when they arrived in So, Korea as defending champs. Dead on their feet.
GV

bruce

5/21/2014 01:54:35 am

George,

the French were a bust in 2002. recall getting up in the middle of the night in japan to watch the 1998 final.

doesn't seem possible it's time for the world cup again. I was very disappointed in the last final. didn't really care who won tho the dutch were always my favourite team to watch. they played like the broad street bullies in the final vs spain.

bruce

bruce

5/21/2014 01:54:55 am

Andy Tansey

5/21/2014 08:31:01 am

Ditto re: the Dutch. The grief Howard Webb (my hero now that Collina is retired - I am part of the "Hair? Who needs it?" Club) took after the final was ridiculous, and the indelible image of Arjen Robben screaming at him from a few images taints my perspective on Robben's great talent. I hope Webb has been vindicated by now and that he gets moer chances at prominent matches.

Was it 2006 or 2002 that Blather lambasted a referee for issuing a record number of cautions (yellow cards)? Who were the teams in that match? As I recall, Portugal was one. Was the other Holland? In that situation, I felt each caution was warranted. The ref got blamed because of the players' bad conduct.

George Vecsey

5/21/2014 11:22:35 am

Netherlands-Portugal. in Nuremberg. I was there. It was a nasty match, and they deserved the cards.
sometimes a ref lets a game get out of control, and sometimes teams are just chippy. That was between the teams and coaches; the ref was not to blame.
Blatter had told his refs to be tough -- and then the guy did not back up his own people. Typical.
GV

John McDermott

5/21/2014 12:28:33 pm

I remember that game too. Blame the players and coaches for that one, not the ref who did what he could. You're right about Blatter. He hung the refs out to dry. He directed them to do something. Then when they did it and he got criticism he did not back them up. A genuine weasel who should probably have been working for a Swiss bank(from which he would have been mandatorily retired some years ago!)rather than presiding over the governing body of the world's most popular and important sport.

Footballwood link

9/8/2014 09:03:10 pm

The FIFA World Cup is over now and the host nation have earned lots of money. They can spend this amount for Brazilians to improve their living standard. But they can't forget that 1-7 humiliated loss against Germany.

johncorner link

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