Category Archives: FIFA Corruption

FIFA Apologises To Brazil – Brazil Uminpressed

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A few weeks ago now we wrote about how FIFA were heading into a pre-World Cup contretemps with hosts Brazil over a couple of items – the sale of beer within the stadia (which is currently prohibited in Brazil) and limits on the number of discounted ticket available to pensioners and students.

In typical amateurish FIFA style, the Secretary General of the much-derided organisation, Jerome Valcke, decided it would help things along to say that the Brazilians needed a ‘kick up the backside’ and were more concerned about winning the competition than setting it up.  The fact that Mr Valcke’s organisation is clearly the one needing a ‘kick up the backside’ had clearly passed him by and Brazil, through sports minister Aldo Rebelo, responded by rightly saying it wanted no further contact with Valcke.

Jerome Valcke

Jerome Valcke

Valcke consequently backed down immediately and sent a letter to the Brazilian sports ministry to apologise.  The elderly head of this FIFA, Sepp Blatter decided he would apologise too, stating that he wanted to “apologise to everyone who may have had their honour and their pride hurt, especially the Brazilian government and President Dilma Rousseff.”

Being the greedy commercial organisation that it is, FIFA want to restrict the sale of beer inside the stadia to it’s corporate sponsors, forcing everyone to drink a low quality, mass produced product.  The first hurdle to overcome is the illegality of beer consumption within Brazilian arenas and there is currently a bill passing through the Brazilian Congress.  That bill is facing some pretty stiff opposition and it seems that FIFA are now trying to surreptitiously impose their own will on the Brazilian congress.  If that’s the case, FIFA’s actions are completely unacceptable and an apology is the least it should be offering.

Aldo Rebelo

Aldo Rebelo

It’s fair to say that Brazil is experiencing one or two issues regarding it’s preparation for the 2014 World Cup but nothing which won’t ultimately be overcome.  Nine of the twelve stadiums will be either renovated or constructed by the end of 2012 and the remaining three will be finished during 2013.   This is alongside a number of other infrastructure improvements which will contribute to Brazil’s world cup legacy.

 

 

FIFA Clash With World Cup Hosts Brazil Over Sale Of Beer

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There appears to a battle brewing (if you’ll pardon the pun) between FIFA, the scandal-hit world football governing body and the Brazilian authorities over whether beer should be sold within the stadiums which are hosting the 2014 finals.

Currently Brazil has legislation which prevents the sale of alcohol within stadiums.  It was Brazil World Cup logopassed in 2003  and is even harsher than than the British regulations which state that you can drink alcohol and watch the match, but not at the same time.  However, when Brazil won the rights to host the final they agreed to amend their legislation.  Why would they do that?  Because one of FIFA’s main sponsors is Budweiser.  Would FIFA be pressing for beer sales in stadia if they weren’t propped up by a brewery?  Probably not, but ethics don’t really play a role here – this is all about money.

But Brazil did agree to amend their rules, if only temporarily, so what’s the problem here?  Well there are some members of the Brazilian congress who don’t want their (possibly sensible) legislation changed and their could be something of a battle to get the amendment passed.  Supporting the change is Brazilian Minister for Sports, Aldo Rebelo, who said the bill is “….a compromise the country committed to when it was bidding for hosting the event“, but others are clearly not so convinced this is the right move.

Interestingly, FIFA only wants beer sold – no other alcohol will be available.  We also wonder whether any alternatives to Budweiser will be available; after all it’s hardly the tastiest brew in the world.

Vladimir Putin and Sepp Blatter

Putin and Blatter

In a similar vein, FIFA is lobbying Russia to allow the same thing in all their sports stadia in time for the 2018 World Cup.  Beer and beer advertising was banned in 2005 for what Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called “the best of intentions” but has since said he will rethink the legislation.

Sepp Blatter was in St. Petersburg to take part in preparations for the 100th birthday of the Russian Football Federation.

 

FIFA Latest: Ups and Downs

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This has been a busy, busy year for the notoriously corrupt organisation which purports to run the world’s most popular game.  FIFA has been accused, found wanting on many grounds, fired several high profile names but the man at the top, Sepp Blatter, still remains in place.  How?  Patronage is the obvious possible answer but it’s very difficult to prove when the entire organisation seems to be benefit from the hand outs.

In recent months FIFA have been working on some serious reforms which made the headlines and seemed to be turning the corner.  Transparency and oversight were the keywords and, not surprisingly, an admittance that the procedures for choosing World Cup venues were hopelessly flawed and would not be repeated.

A couple of days ago we heard some really surprising news – that Lord Goldsmith is to be appointed to the new independent governance committee which was formed as part of the reforms.  It’s surprising because Lord Goldsmith is British and it’s pretty clear how Blatter and his cronies feel about that part of the world.  After all it was the British press who ultimately forced FIFA to reform, despite FIFA’s insults and protestations of innocence.  All in all this seems like a positive step forward for the organisation.

Lord Goldsmith

Lord Goldsmith

What is not so welcome was another recent disclosure that Transparency International (TI) has ended it’s association with FIFA.  The corruption watchdog was advising FIFA in the run up to the reform announcements and many of the reforms had been influenced by TI.

FIFA have made the decision to fund their own expert, Mark Pieth, to oversee the reforms and TI view this as completely against their recommendations on transparency. How, they argue, can an employee of FIFA be independent?  It’s a good question.  Pieth has also said that he will not be re-examining any of the scandals that have beset FIFA in recent years – something else which goes against the recommendations of TI.

Mark Pieth

Mark Pieth

FIFA appears to be taking one step forward and two steps backward, then staggering forward a bit more before composing itself.  At least the appointment of Goldsmith will promote some confidence in FIFA’s ability to reform.