NOTHING like a little controversy heading into the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter came out several days ago saying that Qatar should not have been awarded the rights to host the World Cup.
There are the human rights issues and the US team changing their logo colors to support a certain sector. There’s the current FIFA president making commentary that he shouldn’t be making. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is playing his last tournament for Portugal, has also laid waste to his club, Manchester United.
Is there anything else?
Oh, there is “FIFA Uncovered” on Netflix. The four-episode series that tells of the corruption in the world’s biggest sports federation.
All this reminds me of those so-called controversies between actors prior to the release of a new film. It’s nothing more than a public relations gimmick to get people to watch their film.
Nevertheless, I felt a bit vindicated watching “FIFA Uncovered.” Just a bit because not everything has been resolved locally. Yes, I played a large hand in the ouster of the former president and that never brought me joy. It is ugly business, I assure you.
Now as for the documentary, I was in contact with one of the figures in the scandal.
You see in 2008, I began writing about the corruption in local football and was banned for it.
To be honest, writing this stuff isn’t fun. I’d rather write good stories. But you cannot turn a blind eye lest you be complicit and many are. Disappointingly so to advance their careers. Hence, some quarters in local football feel I have an axe to grind. But what axe? Was I fired from something? Was I denied something?
The funny thing is—are the problems true or false? Whether I have an axe to grind or not, that is the only thing they have to answer. In fact, they don’t. And have never.
They sound like these religious zealots except they claim they are working for football. What a joke.
During one congress at the Discovery Hotel, the former head of the regional football association approached me and this was the exchange:
Official: So you are the fellow writing about these problems about local football.
Me: Nodding.
Official: We can be friends or we can make life difficult for you.
Me: (rather testily) Why don’t you do your job and I will do mine.
End of conversation.
Was the threat carried out? In a way, yes. But it didn’t affect me much. Maybe because soon after law enforcement officials swooped down on these officials.
However, the authorities should have made a clean sweep from all over the world following that scandal because there are enough remnants in place.
Is the sport clean today?
I cannot say for sure.
For now, I am focused on the World Cup. If Russia surprised me with how good the matches were, who knows—the games in Qatar could be special.
Even if it is, I hope the stink is not covered up. They should continue the mopping up operations.