New twist in Football diplomacy
FIFA President Sapp Blatter has finally stepped down from his post, but will continue his office till the next president election scheduled on February 26 in 2016. The four of the six continental federations have welcome the decision and pledged to support current UEFA President Michel Platini in the run. Although Brazil’s former international Zico, Argentine legend Maradona, Prince Ali bin Al Hussain from Jordan and Chung Mong-Joon from South Korea are also considering to contest the world’s most lucrative post – the FIFA President. Football observers are counting Michel Platini as the most potential candidate, but if he does not want to part from UEFA, he may try his best to bring Prince Ali in the soccer’s world governing body in order to control from behind.
In any case, that will herald the beginning of the football imperialism. UEFA has long been opposing Blatter’s decentralization policy of holding the World Cup in every continent by rotation. It is because of his pragmatic policy, three out of last four world cups had been held outside Europe. The next competition will be held in Russia in 2018 which may be in danger if Platini or his man becomes the next FIFA President.
We think that, in the name of cleaning the FIFA, the FBI is damaging the reputation of the said game. Our advice is whoever becomes the next FIFA president, he must be careful of the potential threats to football.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
