By Andrew Warshaw
October 11 – Michel D’Hooghe, one of FIFA’s most experienced and respected policy shapers, has hit out at criticism of the scandal-hit organisation by saying not enough account is taken of the work it does to promote the game globally.
In an exclusive interview with insideworldfootball, D’Hooghe admits FIFA’s image has been severely damaged by the recent spate of corruption scandals but says that outside the inner sanctum, it is still largely a clean and responsible organisation.
“I am not blind and know very well what are the positive and negative points of FIFA after all the years I have been there,” said D’Hooghe, a member of FIFA’s Executive Committee since 1988.
“But too much emphasis is placed on the negative.”
D’Hooghe, chairman of FIFA’s Medical Committee, has seen just about everything during his quarter-of-a-century at the top table and still believes world football’s governing body has done more good than harm – even in the past few months.
“No one would contest that the World Cup in South Africa was a huge success and the recent women’s World Cup in Germany was one of the greatest experiences of my football life,” said the Belgian.
Away from the field of play, D’Hooghe says not enough consideration is given to FIFA’s operations outside the major footballing countries.
“Nobody speaks about the help FIFA offers to 208 national associations,” he said.
“Perhaps it’s not that necessary for countries like England but for those like Gabon and Togo it’s hugely important.
“There are more than 600 Goal projects helping national associations and 20 Centres for Hope in Africa where football education goes together with general education.
“I respect the media everywhere but I get very frustrated that things like this never get reported.”
Medicine being his speciality, D’Hooghe is understandably proud of his and FIFA’s record in medical research and the fight against doping.
But he is also supportive of other areas of the organisation.
He does not accept, for instance, that the collapse in the early 1990s of ISL, FIFA’s former marketing partner, was partly the organisation’s own fault.
“At the time FIFA was on the verge of a catastrophe economically; now it is very healthy,” D’Hooghe said.
“Whether you like it or not, that’s because of Blatter’s team.
“I like things to be judged on fact, not hearsay.”
Drawing three imaginary vertical lines on the table, D’Hooghe says they represent the sporting, social and economic sides of FIFA.
All three, he says, are being conducted cleanly.
It’s the two horizontal lines – representing respect and communication – which D’Hooghe admits are more, as he puts it, “delicate”.
He makes no excuses for the rampant corruption that has been exposed among his own colleagues.
“Respect contains integrity and transparency and I have to admit there have been big failures in this respect,” he said.
“But many of these people I only meet two or three times a year.
“I am not responsible for their morality.
“As far as the European members are concerned, I am sure of their integrity.
“People think the executive committee are a closed circle but this is not true.”
In terms of communication, D’Hooghe says this has not always been conducted in FIFA’s best interests.
He hopes the new communications chief, Walter de Gregorio (pictured), can put things right.
“I have told Blatter several times that this is one of his main problems – that FIFA’s social projects never seem to appear in the media,” said D’Hooghe.
“That means a lack of proper communication.”
But is notD’Hooghe, one of the most down-to-earth and plain-speaking FIFA members, simply being naïve?
“No because we need a better approach; the information needs to be better disseminated,” he said.
“Take a group of reporters to one of the Centres for Hope, for instance.
“This would surely give them a better image of FIFA.”
Former President of the Belgian Football Association, D’Hooghe insists he is no apologist for FIFA but is tired of working against a backdrop of mistrust.
“If I have learned one thing in my 40 years in football, it is never to judge before you have seen the complete dossier,” he said.
As a case in point, he refers to the unsubstantiated allegations that he received a piece of fine Russian art in exchange for his 2018 World Cup vote.
He freely concedes he did receive a gift from a long-time Russian colleague but it had no material value and he stored it away in his attic in Bruges.
“The allegations hurt me,” D’Hooghe said.
“I didn’t promise anything to anyone, I didn’t vote for Russia – I voted for my own country – and I never received Russian art.
“Do you think after 23 years with a reputation for integrity that I would sell my vote for a stupid painting that has no value?
“You can come and play darts on it if you like.”
D’Hooghe says that even today he is proud to be a member of FIFA and is looking forward to Blatter’s eagerly awaited reforms later this month.
“We need a more open future,” he said.
“I am not happy with everything, of course, like the conduct of some of my colleagues from other Continents.
“But if I thought things would carry on as they are, I’d stop.
“If I didn’t believe in FIFA’s integrity, I would resign immediately.”
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