ed New FIFA leader
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
This aphorism explains why FIFA, the global football governing body, finds itself deep in a bribery scandal and cannot get out of it. The absolute power lies in the dominantly European pedigree of its chefs who run the organization a la the mafia. FIFA has had eight presidents ― three British, two French, one Belgian, one Swiss and one Brazilian, or seven out of the eight being European.
Finding somebody from outside Europe and giving him the top FIFA job can be a solution.
It is a matter of course that the next leader should know about FIFA well, and be competent and reform-minded. There is a sizable field of potential and declared bidders for the job.
Korea’s Chung Mong-joon, who served as FIFA vice president for 17 years, is considering running for the job in the Feb. 26 election.
Chung, the biggest shareholder of Hyundai Heavy Industries, once the world’s biggest shipbuilder, fell out with Sepp Blatter, who is at the center of the FIFA corruption scandal, and left the organization.
Prince Al Bin-al-Hussein of Jordan, who lost to Blatter in the May election, is likely to make a bid.
So is Michel Platini, a French football hero, who is leading UEFA, the European football body.
Former Brazilian football star Zico and Liberia’s football chief, Musa Bility, have already declared their bids.
FIFA needs to “democratize” its core apparatus through enhanced transparency and accountability, so as to keep up with the explosive growth it has enjoyed thanks to the popularity of football, seen through the men’s World Cup, among others.
Blatter’s long reign runs against this need. He has been FIFA president for four terms since 1998 and will remain in the post until Feb. 26, 2016, when a new president is elected.
The 79-year-old Swiss is hanging on to power, although he expressed his intention to resign days after his election for a fifth term amid a joint U.S.-Swiss anti-corruption investigation.
It is beyond common sense to see Blatter talk about his mandate at a recent press conference while acting as the lightning rod for changes to come. Yes, at the same venue, he was showered with fake dollar bills in a stunt by a British comedian.
The Jordanian prince was right when he was quoted by AP as saying, “Blatter’s resignation cannot be dragged out any longer. He must leave.”
Before leaving for the United States on a support-drumming tour, Chung told local media, “FIFA has not come to its senses.” Platini, widely seen as a pre-election favorite, reacted differently, as he reportedly gave his consent to the Blatter reform package.
When the football body was founded in 1903, it started with a handful of European nations. Now, it has become much bigger.
Europe has 54 members in FIFA, accounting for about a fourth of its 209 total. Africa is bigger by two with 56, while Asia has 48. North and Central America have 40, while South America has 10.
So the case for change cannot be ignored and, considering the gravity of the problem, that change should come at the top by breaking Europe’s firm grip on its top job.