Editorial: FIFA Still Does Not Get It

One of these years FIFA or world soccer will get it right. The organization will be run by competent individuals who can provide impartial judgments when necessary, legislate without bias, and conduct internal reviews without controversy. On that day players, coaches, and fans will be better off.

Sadly that day looks to be far, far away. For as many things that FIFA has done right in the footballing world there is one very large thing that they struggle: their officials do not know when to be quiet.

More from MLS News

• Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
• Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
• The Chicago Fire does not deserve your support anymore
• Heading to America: Alexis Sanchez Aims for New Horizons in American or Mexican Soccer
• Ethan Horvath: The Bridge Between Two Worlds in Soccer

On Tuesday Francois Carrard, who was selected earlier this month to lead their independent panel on reform, made some rather interesting comments about the current scandal engulfing world football. Carrard said  the following about outgoing (presumably) President Sepp Blatter ” This man has been unfairly treated. And if we talk about corruption … I have the whole US proceedings on my table. In the indictment, there is not one word against him. Nothing. Today I am not aware of any indication of corruption against Blatter.”

Now Mr. Carrard is certainly entitled to his opinion on the matter and he is right in that Mr. Blatter has not been directly linked in the Department of Justice’s criminal probe. But in a time when FIFA is at least half trying to make it seem like they are interested in reform is it really wise for the gentleman who is chairing their independent panel not at least sound like they are independent.

Instead Tuesday’s press conference was a further reminder of how out of touch FIFA and the heads of their football associations are with reality. Rather than taking this as an opportunity to either provide real change to their organization or simply say nothing and proceed through the courts FIFA continues to say and do the wrong things.

Mr. Carrard is not the root problem for all of the things wrong with FIFA but he certainly exemplifies all that is wrong with the organization. Here is a gentleman who is tasked to look at reform from a supposedly independent angle yet is actually being paid by FIFA and will chair a panel with mostly ex-football association heads. What sort of changes could be made by a group of people who still have a vested interest in keeping things the same.

Carrard also made the following comment on reform which should give indication as to where his true beliefs lie. When talking about the reform movement he said “On a cloud, you can advocate for reforms … but they will not necessarily be adopted. It takes knowledge of the realpolitik.”

It was interesting to hear that Carrard mentioned real politik when describing how change can be made in FIFA. The term Realpolitik generally means that in diplomacy change can only be made internally and that those looking from the outside lack the internal knowledge to change things. It was a slight dig at the reform movement growing outside of FIFA and was frankly ignorant. In Carrard’s world those looking to reform FIFA have no idea of what actually goes on in the organization and cannot provide valid alternatives.

Whether it is sheer arrogance or ignorance of the highest order FIFA still does not seem to paying attention at who is speaking out against them. It is people like Mel Brennan, former Special Delegate for FIFA at the 2002 World Cup, and Liberian Football Association chief Muca Bility who have direct experience with this organization and know their ins and outs. It is writers like Andrew Jennings, who have poured through the documents and red tape and provided more transparency than any initiative or panel have ever done. More apparently it is the work by the American and Swiss governments indictments who have opened up the closet organization for the world to see.

The thing that FIFA does not seem to understand is that the system that they have used for the past 25 years is gone. No longer will this organization be able to hide in the darkness. It will have to act in a  more responsible, professional manner or it will become obsolete.

Next: Mexico Calls Up Cubo Torres For U-22 Olympic Qualifiers