Last week a group led by British politicians announced a one-day forum to be hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels, titled ‘A New FIFA Now’, and promising uncompromising talk of effecting change. In a guest column, Howard Wells, a former national federation CEO and former FIFA insider, argues the meeting is a political vanity project that clouds the debate rather than contributes to it. In the real politik of international football the talk-shop falls at the very first hurdle of failing to understand the basic structure of how football is governed worldwide.
As the former CEO of the Irish FA and of two former Premier League clubs I have more than an inkling of knowledge about the politics of football. I was also a member of International Football Association (IFAB) board for four years, so have worked closely with the hierarchy of FIFA.
The kind of debate anticipated in Brussels will not effect change in FIFA. It may in fact, harden the resolve of the hard-liners in FIFA. The UK provides funding to sports’ governing bodies and in return expects a high level of accountability. This is not the case in most countries. As a FIFA Match Commissioner myself, I have spoken to many officials in different countries about the principle of having independent Directors on their Boards, or indeed of having their Governments laying down the law to them. It is a total anathma.
In order to gain an influence at FIFA “Directors” have come through the route of serving their time as Presidents of their own Federations. Those countries, such as Wales, a Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, for example, whose Presidents are elected for a fixed term, would not be around long enough to gain influence at the top table.
It is a vicious circle. The leaders of most Federations are elected and that is part of the problem. They are not appointed based on competencies, so the elected individuals have either served their time, or have curried favour in other ways. Once they get on to the FIFA Board they are bound to want to remain there.
Lord Triesmann is the epitome of a problem within the English FA. He was an appointed Chair there and made a fool of himself in a “honey trap”, and he an “experienced” politician. He has no credibility anywhere in the corridors of football power and having him speak in Brussels highlights the fact that few politicians understand how to influence change in sport at the highest levels.
The arrogance of the FA in England over a number of years has affected its credibility, both in Europe and in FIFA. That the current Chair, Greg Dyke, thinks that by writing to Sepp Blatter IT will have any impact, is indicative of his naïveté and lack of understanding how football works internationally.
To effect significant change at the highest levels of football requires a long term strategy, starting with UEFA and getting it to buy into the desired end state. It is of no use to single out the FIFA President personally as many international Federations also operate as oligarchies.
Politicians need to understand that blundering around in forums such as this may make them feel better, but it will not achieve anything other than continuing to blow up dust.
Howard Wells OBE was the first chief executive of UK Sport and spent 15 years in Hong Kong up to 1996. As a former senior coach of the FA, he also played and coached at Wycombe Wanderers FC. He is currently a FIFA match commissioner. More recently between 2005 and 2008 he was CEO of the Irish FA, when he was also a member of IFAB. He is a visiting lecturer at Bucks New University and was elected to the Sport and Recreation Alliance board in 2000 and was chair from 2001 to 2005. He was awarded an OBE in the 2013 New Years Honours list.