World soccer’s leading body, FIFA, is once again rocked by allegations of bribery and vote-trading. A number of top honchos were arrested for suspected corruption and President Sepp Blatter resigned amidst heavy criticism. The image of the international football federation has been, over the years, increasingly tarnished by legitimate charges. FIFA’s actus reus includes all kinds of accusations, from corruption to money-laundering to electoral manipulation. In spite of raging controversies, Blatter and his entourage remained, as this “sovereign” body is not answerable to anyone.
Corruption rules
For decades, FIFA has been mired in corruption, acting as a sort of mafia whose officials manipulated the allocation of the World Cup, promoting self-interest entwined with that of huge business corporations, ie “sponsors.”
It would also be naive to assume that such finagles are limited in the cases of Russia and Qatar. FIFA officials have been embroiled in accusations of corruption for decades. This is only being confirmed now officially, indicting top individuals with fraudulence, felony, and misappropriation.
The Brazilian strongman, João Havelange, was FIFA’s president for two-and-a-half decades. From 1974 to 1998, he ruled the body with an iron fist. A Swiss court, in 2013, accused him of receiving pay-offs amounting to millions of American dollars from different financial partners.
Havelange would be remembered for introducing the process of distributing handouts to its member national associations since being elected. The money for “member-country sustenance” ensured that the officials were re-elected time and again with no member associations questioning FIFA’s dark side. Blatter remained the Brazilian’s strongest accomplice and a faithful assistant for most of the period. Havelange resigned from his post in 1998 and was exonerated.
Commercialisation by FIFA
The current criticism of FIFA by the media is largely limited to the corruption of the FIFA leadership. What evades our scrutiny is that FIFA is a pioneer of the commercialisation of football in general, and the World Cup in particular. FIFA is run like a mercantile association. It functions as a chamber of commerce and is in its core a capitalist group.
FIFA has most effectively milked the common people’s passion, sentiments and affections for the most popular sport in the world. Between 2011-2014, it received $5.718bn, mostly for television rights and advertising contracts of which $338m remained as profit. In 2014, it declared a capital of $1.523bn. However, it hardly pays any taxes, as its headquarters are in Switzerland, which is largely exempt from tax. During the World Cup in Germany in 2006, it forced full tax-exemption from the German government.
These revenues and the collaborations with various major sponsors who are accorded exclusive rights for advertising and marketing at the World Cups are the material basis for kickbacks, bribery, and all the corrupt machinations. And FIFA, with its partners, patronises vested interests for economic and commercial expansions.
It is nice to see the World Cup being held at different parts of the world, the game is enjoyed by more people, and footballing standards pick-up in different corners. Therefore, a World Cup in Asia or Africa is a matter of immense interest to us. However, for FIFA, the prime motivations are the commercial interests and markets. Therefore, countries are rewarded with the World Cup tournament -- even the African and the Arabian -- regardless of the fact whether there is a footballing culture or any mass appeal.
Authoritarian culture
After commercialisation, the second, essential fundament for corruption at FIFA is their opaque and authoritarian structure. Their system of wages, allowances, and bonuses is completely murky. In 2011, FIFA spent at least $97m for such payments, for which it is publicly not accountable.
Moreover, FIFA’s decision-making is done by a small clique of bureaucrats where the mass of fans has no control or influence. FIFA’s authoritarian system clones national associations along their lines. If they act belligerent they risk facing threats, and sanctions, even undermining the country’s legal systems where they are based.
In sum, with the total control of the sport, FIFA has established a reactionary culture of sanctions in football. Dictatorial regimes are often courted (think of the Argentine military junta in 1978), corrupt politicians are accommodated, and product advertising is omni-present.
However, political messages and legitimate or moral demands from players or fans are ruthlessly punished -- an utter mockery of democracy and the freedom of expression. This prohibitive culture continues at the national levels as well. In the Spanish Cup final of 2015, FC Barcelona and Atletic Bilbao were punished as their fans whistled at the Spanish anthem. The Catalan and the Basque people have been fighting for secession and seeking to liberate themselves from the Spanish state for many decades.
Whither FIFA?
Would things change with the replacement of a couple of bureaucrats at the head of FIFA? Certainly not; these are not going to be anything more than cosmetic changes and would only aid the discredited association with a face-lift. Probably the new top officials are trying to give themselves a clean image and make FIFA a little more transparent.
A fair number of scams and acts of patronising might be unearthed but that would not fundamentally change the organisation.
FIFA, with its current structure, would continue to work like a business corporation. Indeed, it is a giant trans-national corporation (TNC) and works for the benefit of capital as all capitalist corporations do. Nothing will change as long as their present structures remain intact. A reform of FIFA is a far-fetched dream. For sure, the linchpin of corruption, Sepp Blatter and his cohorts, need to be removed, but it will not solve the problems plaguing football’s leading body.
This hugely authoritarian and commercial enterprise can be dismantled if it is only replaced by an international football association which is controlled by genuine football fans and not by giant business corporations and their agents. That task seems difficult but not impossible. The necessary financial resources can be raised through grants by countries, which can be raised by capital taxation of the giant multi-national companies. For the sake of the game, the exclusivity of the FIFA officials and the corporations have to be ended, sooner or later.
