It’s time for FIFA, and Sepp Blatter to step up and teach our kids about stewardship
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Like many people around the globe, I love sports. I love sports for the thrilling competition, the healthy tribalism, and, increasingly, the escapism from a heavy world. At the end of a long week very few things engage me as fully as a playoff hockey game or a tough NFL football matchup. Or, a World Cup soccer tournament. I know that I’m not alone because sports is one of the biggest businesses on the planet.
So, imagine my sadness as I awoke last week to the news of the U.S. Justice Department unsealing a forty-seven count indictment all but branding FIFA a global criminal enterprise. In the U.S. the story generated more soccer news coverage than anything I can remember since the 1994 World Cup (hosted in America).
But what’s struck me mainly since the bombshell indictments is the peculiar response from FIFA officials, including its scandal-weary leader Sepp Blatter. First off, while the scale of the recent accusations is eye-popping, any international soccer fan has known for years that FIFA operates in a shadowy manner that leaves most people at best confused and at worst outraged by its actions. The Economist magazine wrote a prolific article late last year arguing that global soccer has succeeded so mightily despite FIFA’s leadership rather than because of it. It said, in no uncertain terms, that the world soccer establishment deserves better.
But FIFA’s response to last week’s carnival-like events has been ridiculous. Sepp Blatter chose to move forward with his own re-election process, apparently attempting to move fast before the world had a chance to digest the full scope of what was unveiled. Any organization that sees so many of its executives jailed and accused of such staggering malfeasance needs to restore its credibility to the world before it signs up for another four years of incumbent leadership. The icing on the cake was ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner angrily defending his former organization against accusations made by The Onion, a satirical, U.S.-based magazine. The embarrassing move suggested that no degree of scandal is beyond FIFA.
Then the world received an incredulous swirl of weak platitudes by Blatter responding to the news. His defense to allegations seems to be a mash up of “I knew nothing,” and “I can’t watch everyone,” “We must clean this up,” and “How do you think the world really works?” and, finally, the “U.S. and U.K. are just out to get me because they weren’t awarded the World Cup.” Makes sense to me.
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To me, however, the stakes are higher than just “gotcha.” Everyone stumbles. Every leader struggles. Every organization doing business faces the challenges of shady or unethical practices.
I don’t expect FIFA to be perfect and I don’t expect Sepp Blatter to be squeaky clean.
Yet I do expect leaders of high-profile organizations to accept the responsibilities of stewardship. Stewardship suggests that FIFA’s role in world soccer is not merely about pursuing personal agendas or holding good events. It’s about supporting the enduring mission of world soccer and leaving it in a better place then where it started. Stewardship is not an easy role to play. It’s not meant to be easy.
And, as a man, I also expect Sepp Blatter to accept certain responsibilities as a leader on the global stage. Boys and men all over the globe take cues from the male leaders they observe, especially leaders whose charge extends across intentional boundaries. Male leadership is often characterized by some of its negative aspects: cut-throat competition, heavy handedness, and greed. Male leadership can also be characterized by some of its positive aspects: honor, duty, and grace. Blatter had—and potentially still has—a chance to be a positive role model who demonstrates how a powerful leader faces and works through a challenging crisis.
There may not be too many great outcomes for FIFA at this point, but a commitment on the part of Blatter to operate transparently, accept appropriate responsibility, and carry out genuine reforms would go a long way towards restoring the organization’s image and allowing world soccer to be all that it can be.
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The stakes for the world are also high. There aren’t many forums that peacefully involve nations of all continents in a monthlong event focused on cooperation and competition. And that’s just the quadrennial World Cup. FIFA is also in charge of funding and promoting youth soccer development across the globe. Children all over the planet, especially those in poor and underdeveloped nations, rely on FIFA’s support to build stadiums and organize leagues. This support shouldn’t be based on graft, kickbacks, and opaque deals made in back rooms.
As fans of world sports we get the leaders we accept and tolerate. We are not helpless in the face a Zurich-based group of elitists. The money that changes hands is deeply connected to corporate sponsorship and TV rights. We are the ones who buy things and watch television. If we choose not to do either, FIFA will change.
I encourage everyone to monitor events moving forward regarding FIFA. If the organization doesn’t change for the better, then let your thoughts be known.
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Photo credit:Flickr/FSIE