Lord Triesman, ex-chairman of the Football Association, has reportedly claimed that some FIFA members are corrupt in that they sought bribes in connection with the 2018 World Cup bidding process.
Really, FIFA members corrupt ? Surely not, at least, no more so than they are allowed to be by the FIFA executive management's total refusal to review its procedures in order to ensure that corrupt practices are rooted out.
Just like the other great international sporting body, the International Olympic Committee, FIFA has been accused over and over again of actions ranging from 'shady' to outright criminal. These organisations have memberships that reflect the cultures and practices of every nation in the world; as such, some of their members have very different approaches to life than do others. There can also be little doubt that some of the representatives have found it very difficult to ignore the opportunities for self-enrichment that are offered by their positions.
Of course there is corruption within FIFA, as there is within the IOC. What is really shocking, though, is that we and other supposedly honest nations continue to belong to these discredited organisations. Perhaps the lure of all the associated 'benefits in kind' is simply too great even for our otherwise honest representatives to refuse; the FIFA and IOC gravy trains are every bit as lucrative and rewarding as those on offer from other wide-ranging organisations such as the UN and EU, and we know how honest they are.
In the case of FIFA, there is shortly to be an opportunity to give notice that members are not happy with it's activities in recent years, with the presidential election to be held in three weeks. Sepp Blatter has been President for more than 12 years and wants to serve a further 4, by when he will be nearly 80; his predecessor, Joao Havelange, held the office for nearly a quarter of a century. Surely it is time to change things, to ensure that this office cannot be held for such long periods of time by any one individual. Without serious change, the ingrained corruption that exists will continue unabated.
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