Bin Hammam is currently serving a 90-day ban from FIFA whilst financial investigations are made, a decision that has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, as the Telegraph reported in September, a previous lifetime ban imposed by FIFA was actually overturned by CAS who stated that Blatter gave “contradictory statements” in evidence.
Rather than investigate the corruption allegations over the World Cup voting, it was reported by the same source that FIFA had decided instead to pursue the financial mismanagement case of bin Hammam resulting in the 90-day ban.
This is not to say the FA is without its issues. The long drawn-out process that accompanied the investigations into racist abuse has won little praise. It should also not be forgotten that in the midst of allegations surrounding the World Cup vote, the FA and the England bid team publicly aligned themselves to FIFA before swiftly changing their views after the vote was lost. For many this came across as a sore loser attitude and left their statements of opposition severely lacking in credibility.
Considering all of this, has there been that much change within both organisations since the Presidential election? If the FA wants FIFA to reform, it could be argued that they should actually steer clear of anything to do with them on a public relations front, and try to ask the necessary questions. A rejection of FIFA’s approaches could be interpreted as more effective for the FA’s calls of reformation.
But it would be justifiable and fair to say that the FA itself needs reforming, and should look in the mirror before looking at others.
The relationship between the two organisations highlights one thing above all others: the constant battle of power relations in international sports governance. The issue of where the power lies is extremely important in modern sport, and the FA has now decided that it is better to be working with the organisation than against it.
If that is actually going to be better in the long-run remains to be seen. Out of the two, it is the FA that has the most to lose. Sections of the British media have kept up constant scrutiny of FIFA, and ultimately this decision will either be seen to be a big step on the road to reformation together, or the FA will be judged to have sold their recently expressed principles down the river for a slice of the pie.
Daniel Smith – @dmsmith1987
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