FIFA NEVER GETS IT

As the World Football Governing Body Attempts to Muscle Giant Brazil

As recently as late last year , FIFA was thrown into a frenzied confusion over Corruption allegation arising out of the Bidding to host both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups that led to the resignation and banishing of some of the old men in the FIFA gravy train that is the Executive Committee.The shenanigans led to many calls for deep reforms in how FIFA is run and make the institution that governs the global game more accountability. It seems such a background will push FIFA to amend its ways but it looks like after a few weeks FIFA is back on form.

A couple of days ago the General Secretary of FIFA was in Brazil to inspect the progress of work towards the hosting of the 2014 World Cup and iron out some teething issues. As is always the case with hosting Major Global Sporting events, Brazil, a fully fledged democracy is required to make changes in its laws and pass legislations on Property rights, Profit Repatriation and tax laws to satisfy the terms and conditions set out by FIFA whose Executive Committee is accountable to no one.


This exercise which has been a formality with other tournaments is proving quite difficult this time around. The first issue was the pricing of tickets.FIFA objected vehemently to a proposal by the Gilma Roussef's Government of Brazil to cut ticket prices for minors and the elderly ; given the importance of the game in Brazilian national life and the Government's wish to extend the tournament to the reach of most Brazilians of all background. With both eyes firmly on the bottomline, FIFA flatly refused to agree and the issue remains unresolved. The irony could not be stark , the grubby old men at FIFA decide to lock out those who cannot afford tickets to a game with a working class origin because they are overly concerned about their profit. How perverse can one be?

This week the arrogant and insensitive FIFA were at it again , ordering the Brazilian Legislature to pass a bill that will allow for beer to be sold inside Football Stadiums during the world Cup.



In remarks to journalists in Rio de Janeiro, Mr Valcke sounded frustrated with Brazilian officials:

"Alcoholic drinks are part of the Fifa World Cup, so we're going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that's something we won't negotiate," he said."The fact that we have the right to sell beer has to be a part of the law."