December 15 – The Swedish football association has waded into the debate over transparency within FIFA by suggesting world football’s governing body adopt the Nordic way of behaving when it comes to openness.
Swedish Football Association chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson (pictured) told Reuters that Michael Garcia’s report – the subject of more scrutiny at this week’s forthcoming FIFA executive committee meeting in Marrakesh – should be published in full.
“We live in a country where we are used to transparency and openness, and it is much easier as one doesn’t have to doubt or speculate about what is in different documents,” said Nilsson.
“If one is open about what is there, one can better discuss the contents. For us, it’s a given that it is better to publish this kind of report.”
So far only a 42-page summary of Garcia’s file has been published over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. FIFA has been reluctant to publish the full report, citing concerns over confidentiality.
Already whistleblowers in the report Eckert summary have complained bitterly about having their previously promised anonymity broken, so quite how publishing the full report could offer any confidentiality remains to be seen.
But Nilsson believes there is way out of the impasse by releasing redacted evidence.
“We are aware that certain people have testified under the condition that it would not be made public. But in that case, try to do something to make sure that it’s not apparent who they are so that the report can be published.”
The 57-year-old welcomed the fact that the World Cup will be hosted in a new region when it goes to Qatar but says more questions should have been asked in advance.
“Much greater demands should have been placed on ethical questions related to workers’ rights, and one should of course have reflected over the summer temperatures,” he said.
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