FIFA faces backlash over Qatar world Cup location

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FIFA faces backlash over Qatar world Cup location Football’s governing body FIFA is in danger of coming into dispute with top clubs in Europe over its handling of the decision to give World Cup 2022 to Qatar and the expansion of the international footballing calendar, with many of the European leagues, in particular the Premiership, stretched as things currently stand.

FIFA apparently did not consult clubs over its suggestions that the World Cup might be played in the winter months in Qatar – which would have huge ramifications for Europe’s premier league fixtures – instead of playing in the hot summer, as proposed by the Qatar bid. The Qatar soccer organisation has continued to insist that the World Cup will be played in their summer, as originally planned.

The heads of both Barcelona and Manchester, President Sandro Rosell and Chief Executive David Gill, respectively, have both expressed their surprise over FIFA’s handling of the affair.

With UEFA Champions League coming up in the next week, many competing clubs have also expressed concerns at the wisdom of having 4 games plus travelling in the space of only 10 days.

Umberto Gandini of AC Milan also expressed his displeasure at FIFA’s treatment of the international calendar. An alternative has been proposed by the European Club Association, including a limit of one international tournament annually and, instead of having individual games, to have entire periods for the national teams. Commenting, Michele Centaro of the association said that there must be greater transparency in FIFA decision-making, particularly where those decisions impact on club football.

All of this couldn’t have come at a worse time for controversial FIFA President Sepp Blatter, with elections imminent.

Qatar winter world cup debate

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Qatar winter world cup debate In round four, after eliminating Australia, Japan and South Korea, FIFA’s final vote was 8 for the USA and 14 for Qatar.  Therefore, Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the middle of its two hottest months, when it is illegal for labourers to work outside if the temperature reaches the seasonal average of 40 degrees centigrade.

Either that, or the World Cup will be moved from Qatar’s summer to Qatar’s winter, sometime smack in the middle of several other international winter sports competitions, like Europe’s football season and the 2022 Winter Olympics, for instance.

No one seems to be quite sure just why the tiny and very wealthy emirate of Qatar won the coveted position of host, and hardly anyone seems to be happy about it.  Sports fans, commentators and analysts from all over the place are logging in to express disbelief and dissatisfaction at what most are calling at best a huge gamble and at worst a total fiasco.  There are of course rumours of knavery and corruption, though none have been even faintly confirmed.  What is fairly certain is that FIFA’s credibility is at very low ebb.

Sepp Blatter has been FIFA’s president for 12 years now and apparently intends to go on for another four after the FIFA congress in Zurich this June.  He said he would personally clean up the Association’s image, proposing a new committee to oversee the ethics of the voting members.  He said this committee would be composed of reputable and experienced figures in finance, business, culture and politics as well as sports, and would thereby shore up the sagging credibility of the world’s foremost football authority.

Possibly the most serious blow to the Association’s image is the suspicion that all of Qatar’s magnificent promises regarding new infrastructure, new stadiums, and carbon-free air-conditioning may have been a smokescreen.  It has become apparent that a change in the timing of the World Cup was already on the table before the final votes were counted.

Australian Soccer Federation officials attempted to influence FIFA

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Australian Soccer Federation officials attempted to influence FIFA Information has been leaked that shows Australia Soccer Federation officials attempted to influence FIFA executive committee members by making promises and pressuring government officials to do more to influence the committee.

In particular, Reynald Temarii, who has been suspended from FIFA, provided Australian Soccer officials a secret list of demands in return for his vote representing the Oceania Football Confederation in the bid process.

Certain members of the Australia bid team also pressed the government to give Jack Warner a case of wine rather than the single bottle they had promised.

These same documents reveal that the Australians attempted to deliver on political and personal promises in order to obtain Mr. Temarii’s vote.  Such conduct, if proven, would be a clear violation of FIFA rules, although no one suspects that it would be less than standard operating procedure in the tainted FIFA bid process.

It is also reported that the Soccer Federation is imploring the Australian government not to release information on two questionable lobbyists, Fedor Radmann and Peter Hargitay, who were hired based upon their association with FIFA officials.

Whatever the case, it is expected that other such documents and information regarding questionable acts on the part of FIFA and other negotiating bid teams will be revealed in due course.

Sir Alex Ferguson lashes out at FIFA

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Sir Alex Ferguson lashes out at FIFA Sir Alex Ferguson, the well-known boss of Manchester United has spoken out against the recent FIFA World Cup decision not to bring the event to England, but to take it to Russia instead.  He said that the most embarrassing part of the Zurich decision was to knock England out in round one.

England should have had a better opportunity than that, in his opinion, based upon its infrastructure alone.  Travel is easy in England, he pointed out, and there are already fantastic facilities.

Ferguson said that in his experience with committees, there are no real democratic decisions made.  There are always a couple of strong personalities who impose their will on others in committee, whether it is sports, business, or politics.

He fears that England may not get a real legitimate shot at another World Cup unless the FIFA committee system is overhauled or there are new members put in place.

He said that there is nothing to be done now and England must just be satisfied that they did the best that they could do.

Did Panorama cost us the World Cup

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Did Panorama cost us the World Cup Rumours are spreading fast that England lost its bid for the 2018 World Cup because of the media investigations by BBC’s Panorama, along with the Sunday Times, that turned up corruption on the FIFA executive committee.

This speculation is being fuelled by statements from a Japanese member of that very committee, Junji Ogura.  Ogura says that the media investigations absolutely turned the committee against England, which was knocked out during the first round after only gathering up two votes.

He said that the investigations caused damage.  To him, it appeared that England would be a strong contender for the bid, but that all changed after the media investigations.

It was further alleged that Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, gave an address to the executive committee members before their votes, reminding them about the evils of media.  This information was revealed by England’s bid boss, Andy Anson.  Anson reported that someone in the room at the time told him about Blatter’s comments. All Anson would say was if that were true, it certainly would not have helped England’s cause at all.