The Future of Football

To be honest, it is not easy to see any positive aspects regarding the future of professional soccer. It is actually quite impossible when considering its past. The abyss is too deep with FIFA and the DFB and the belief in a positive change in the next years too small. As a soccer fan I often ask myself if the sport can stay unharmed by scandals its functionaries are responsible for. Only when fundamental changes are initiated to FIFA, there will be a chance for organized sport events in this era of the soccer crisis. 

We are now used to FIFA seemingly operating outside of any jurisdiction, no matter how high the prices of their actions were for democracy, human rights and the local population. Adhesion contracts, spending records, slavery-like working conditions, evictions, restriction of civil rights, environmental damage, ruthless commerce- FIFA never felt responsible but has always been the cause of all of the negative developments which follow the world championships. 

Every criticism, whether it be the corrupt world championship award procedure, the deadly working conditions on the world championship construction sites in Qatar, the civil right situation in Russia or the environmental destruction in Brazil, was blocked with a shrug. Instead, the focus was on financial advantage of the functionaries and on the retention of power. 

 

The undisturbed quiet only seemed to be over when American and Swiss judicial authorities started their persistent investigations,  charges were made against FIFA functionaries regarding corruption, money laundering and fraud and public pressure built up. Even their own ethics committee is now openly against FIFA and the former president Blatter. After an exclusion, a ban was put up against him. At that point his days were numbered and his withdrawal after a controversial re-election wasted. 

But the soccer world can not simply be content with this. Precisely because I am a soccer fan, I cannot let corrupt functionaries destroy it. It is remarkable how far they have come following their dream of a powerful entity existing outside of any judicial system and that people turn their back to sport events in disgust. But me and millions of other fans all over the world do not want to look away, they want to celebrate, share their excitement and be passionate. We want to look at what happens inside and outside of the stadium. And we want to talk about it. 

We cannot be insensible to the fact that success such as for example the victory of the 2014 world cup were at the expenses of the environment, human and civil rights. If we want soccer to maintain its social and peace-building power, then we cannot let the changes of FIFA or the DFB come to a standstill half way. 

Considering the enormous amount of corruption and the developed system of mutual benefits it becomes clear that significant reforms are needed: a democratization of national and international sports associations. Most importantly, informations need to be spread and the truth uncovered and after that reforms that prevent mistakes from being repeated in the future.  

Associations need to change their culture as well though, because structural reforms are not enough to change minds. They are there to rectify undesirable developments and make a new start possible. But that is not possible without a new mindset of the functionaries, characterized by a sense of responsibility, honesty and transparent actions. That is the only way to guarantee change and  get through the crisis. 

Corrupt clique of functionaries

It is unacceptable that the associations exist as a male parallel world which are based on camaraderie and friendship, sinecures and cartels of silence and does not care about constitutional principles , democratic procedures and clear responsibilities. Leading figures who are socialized as part of the "FIFA system" are not going to be able to plausibly use the chance of a reform, which is undergoing a crisis.

 

It is therefore a problem when Issa Hayatou, who was warned because of his corruptibility, could become Blatter's successor or when Michel Platini, a representative of the corrupt cliques of functionaries, can run for president and  be supported by Europeans while doing it. We are lucky that the ethics commission banned Platini's plans. 

It is also necessary to put more women into leading positions of FIFA and this is best regulated by a quote. And why can't we let all members of the FIFA executive committee join the committee after a thorough integrity check? There should also be a time limit to their office, binding guidelines regarding transparency and FIFA's social responsibility. 

Some of these proposals exist for some time already. At the FIFA congresses, where all 209 national associations are meeting to vote for a new structure of the world association, there has to be some change. When there is going to be the decision to implement the reforms and a new president is going to change the culture and mindset of FIFA, giving them a chance, 2017 could be the turning point for international soccer. But only if nothing stays as it is. There is not much time left to make change happen.