In football, as in every walk of life, some people have more to say than others. One of them, one-time FIFA adviser Jerome Champagne, has just broken his silence with a thought-provoking thesis on the issue of reform in Zurich, two years after having been shown the door.
Consideration of Champagne’s recipe for FIFA’s future raises intriguing issues over other international sports organisms.
Two interesting points about Champagne: firstly, his contribution to the reform debate is the first generated by a comparatively-recent insider; secondly, he has not followed the Warner/Bin Hammam example of biting the hand that fed him.
Quite the opposite.
The former French diplomat and sports journalist has a great deal of respect for football, for FIFA and its basically democratic foundation as well as for the men and women who work on its worldwide social, educational, health and development projects.
But he knows that change in the decision-making structure is essential; he knows that the national associations provide a logical foundation for the system, but that confederations, leagues, clubs and players need to be involved more closely.
If not then, eventually, the professional game will feel increasingly alienated and the odd assortment of millionaires, oligarchs and business bosses who run the clubs will become more tempted to go their own way.
This is the danger which challenges UEFA right now.
The level of European club debt is rising, year on year. That is the justification for President Michel Platini’s financial fair play scheme. It will, UEFA’s executive was promised earlier this week, have teeth; it will not pull its punches when the punishment of a European competition ban is demanded.
Presumably, a small army of lawyers and accountants are already studying the rules and regulations to see what loopholes may exist and how the scheme sits within the wider context of European law.
This is a potential threat to the long-term ability of UEFA to hold all the diverse strands of the European game together.
Inevitably, the first challenges to FFP will ultimately be channelled into the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Hopefully sport’s ‘Supreme Court’ is already reviewing how it can meet the steady increase in the number of football-related cases.
CAS was created in 1984 by the International Olympic Committee with the intention of offering sport a time-saving shortcut to dispute resolution. The evidence of Sion, Bin Hammam, Contador etc is that CAS cannot work at the pace sport demands.
In Champagne’s early years at FIFA, the world federation suggested that CAS should set up a football-specific division. This piece of commonsense was, apparently, rejected.
Just goes to show that there are many more sports authorities than FIFA which might benefit from a fresh appraisal.
THIS WEEK’S ARTICLES:
ROGAN TAYLOR: WE’RE ALL FOR FAIR DO’S, AREN’T WE?
GERRY COX: NO FIX REQUIRED
Keir Radnedge is one of the foremost observers of international soccer. He has reported at every World Cup since 1966 and is a regular contributor to TV, radio, newspapers and magazines worldwide. He is London-based Editor of SportsFeatures.com and is chairman of the Football Commission of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). Visit www.KeirRadnedge.com for further information. Follow him on Twitter for more sports industry updates.
The views of our regular columnists are independent, and as such do not represent those of Leaders in Football.
