THE consensus favours England hosting the World Cup in 2018, but the most powerful man in world football, Sepp Blatter, is not so sure.
The FIFA president is back in town, ready to take on the rich and powerful, a fight he always enjoys. Blatter's power comes from football's developing world, which includes Australia, and he loves to champion the cause of the underdog. It's a rare juxtaposition - a Swiss national railing against the Eurocentrics who think money should shape the direction of the game. None more so than the English, whose Premier League is a trojan horse for global domination. But above all else, Blatter is a socialist, and FIFA's charter of one vote, one country, gives him the mandate for his egalitarian approach.
The recent history of football has been marked by regular skirmishes between the rich who want to get richer, and FIFA, which pointedly changed its slogan recently to: For the Game. For the World. FIFA is by no means squeaky clean, nor free of vested interest. But for better or for worse, it does represent the whole of the game. And on the eve of the FIFA Congress in Sydney, Blatter feels the tide is starting to turn. The battleground which will define football's destiny is Europe, and after losing battle after battle against the lawmakers in Brussels, there are signs FIFA could start winning the war. The G14 - a coalition of Europe's biggest clubs - is no more. And on January 1 next year, the European Union will update its treaty to finally recognise the specificity of sport. That, Blatter believes, will tip the scales of justice in favour of FIFA, and be a victory for common sense, not greed.
Philosophising is one of Blatter's favourite pastimes, especially when the microphones are on. He was at it again on the weekend, summoning selected journalists to his five-star hotel to ruminate on the state of the game, wringing his hands whenever he wanted to underline his point. Frank Lowy was scrambled to lend support, and soon tapped into the mood. It was a rare sight to see Lowy, sitting next to Blatter at the rostrum, so animated and passionate. Lowy wants something - the 2018 World Cup - and Blatter might be influential enough to give it to him. Blatter also wants something - as many bidders as possible - and Lowy can deliver him a credible case for Australia. The mutual admiration society was in full swing.
After insisting the tyranny of distance wasn't going to be a problem for Australia - given FIFA's rules provide a two-week window for each team to prepare - Blatter was asked what the biggest challenge would be: "That some of the so-called football powerhouses think they have a special right to host the competition." England, be warned.
According to Blatter, England will face stiff competition from not only Australia, but also Russia, Qatar, China, Mexico, the United States and Japan. Joint bids are also being formed in Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal, but they would only be considered if FIFA decides no single country has a strong enough case. FIFA's decision on 2018 will be made in 2011, and if Blatter has his way, a decision on the following World Cup in 2022 will be made at the same time. Sponsors and television are keen on a package, and Blatter hopes this week's Congress will support a "double decision".
He's less keen on the wishes of European president Michel Platini (UEFA) and Asia's Mohammad bin Hammam (AFC) to limit bids to one from each confederation. Clearly, Blatter believes the more bids there are, the more credible the World Cup looks. "If it becomes a continental elimination, I cannot intervene, but personally I would not be happy with that situation," he said. "It is the fundamental right of each national association to bid for the FIFA World Cup."
So Australia might be up against China, after all. Last week, our Mandarin-speaking Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he would try to avert a clash by having a few "quiet words" with his Chinese friends..
For now, Blatter's mind is on his crusade to force Europe's big clubs to field six players in each match who are eligible for that country's national team, which Lowy supports wholeheartedly: "Australia supports this absolutely and totally … it will speed up our development two or three hundred per cent."
Blatter smiled, and patted Lowy on the back. "Good. I invite you to speak to the Congress then."
Clearly, the World Cup bid is gathering steam.
No comments:
Post a Comment