FIFA has lost all credibility
The Football Supporters' Federation believes that FIFA and in particular its re-elected president Sepp Blatter and its executive committee, have lost all credibility within football following the persistent instances of corruption, alleged corruption, and influence-peddling. The role of football’s governing body is crucial to the future of our game. Urgent reform is required.
The FSF will be raising this matter with its fellow football supporters across Europe at the forthcoming European Football Fans’ Congress to take place at the stadium of Brøndby IF, near Copenhagen in Denmark on 1st-3rd July 2011. The FSF will submit an emergency motion for consideration by the Congress.
In the meanwhile the FSF calls for:
- FIFA sponsors, partners and broadcasters to put pressure on FIFA for real and lasting reform.
- The appointment of an independent commission of investigators with powers to require the production of documents and witnesses by the FIFA Congress to enquire into all recent allegations and report publically on them to all national football associations, together with recommendations for reform to the FIFA statutes.
- All national football associations to back the calls for the creation of an international sports anti-corruption agency similar in structure to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with wide-ranging powers to investigate and levy sanctions in all alleged cases of corruption, including in matters of governance as well as match-fixing. The FSF notes with approval the initiative of the Council of Europe in this matter, last discussed at a meeting of European sports ministers convened by the Council of Europe at Baku, Azerbaijan on 22nd September 2010.
- The UK and Welsh ministers for sport to support moves to establish an international sports anti-corruption agency, working with international governing bodies and federations of governing bodies where possible, such as SportAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations) and the International Olympic Committee, the European Union, Council of Europe and the United Nations Organisation and non-governmental bodies such as Play The Game.
Commenting on the current crisis FSF chair and FA Council member representing supporters Malcolm Clarke said: “The time has come to clean out the stables at FIFA. Our game’s world governing body has lost all credibility. It is mired in allegation after allegation of corrupt and unethical practices. It has degenerated into an organisation dominated by old men and run for their interests, not those of the hundreds of millions who play, officiate and watch the game all around the globe.
“The billions of dollars it commands annually from sponsors and broadcasters should be used to benefit the game, not corrupt and venal administrators. The situation at FIFA HQ has degenerated into an unedifying and damaging circus. It’s time for action to claim back football’s highest governing body by all those who care about the world’s game.”
The Football Supporters’ Federation represents more than 180,000 football fans of clubs and national teams at all levels throughout England & Wales.