By Paul Nicholson in Zurich
October 28- The 15th International Football Arena conference was opened in Zurich today by FIFA president Sepp Blatter who, in front of an invited audience of 200 football business executives, said it was vital that the spirit of the game was maintained as “the game of the people”.
Looking back over the past 15 years and more, Blatter confined his opening remarks to changes on the field of play from “making a player out of the goalkeeper” to assistant referees to the introduction of new playing surfaces.
As he had done at the weekend at the English FA’s 150th birthday celebrations, he reconfirmed what he sees as the importance of the four British members on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and reiterated his support of its role as custodians of the rules of the game.
He also paid a special birthday tribute, again, to the FA. “I congratulate the FA on their 150th because it is there that everything started,” he said.
Maybe so but the more they are congratulated on their past by football’s modern-day leaders, the more the cynics may remark that the FA has struggled to move on from their initial history-making role. By contrast, FIFA’s history is shorter. Blatter was FIFA’s 12th employee, joining in February 1975; FIFA now numbers over 400 staff. FIFA was only formed in 1904, with seven members but that has now grown to 209 member associations.
Looking to the future Blatter said it was “important to have unity, democracy and solidarity between our 209 members.”
In a message to the IFA delegates whose conference is themed around looking toward the future, Blatter added: “I am sure the ball will still be round, there will be 11 players on each side, two goals and two teams of fans cheering in the stadium…
“Please maintain the spirit and essence of football…this game is the game of the people. The laws of the game have never changed…The question is will football remain the game a huge sport or will it be a huge industry?”
The IFA panels continue today and tomorrow with discussions on players and coaches, leagues, technology, media and marketing, and stadia development. Tuesday a potentially explosive panel will look at whether there is a future for mega sports events.
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