FFA's intention to bid for the 2023 Women's World Cup shows they have no interest in good governance at FIFA
“Football's best years are ahead of us.” Nice sound bite. Agree that it’s the case – just as it is for our nation.
But by flagging an intention to bid for the Women’s World Cup in 2023, FFA is also flagging that they are totally disinterested in the good governance of #FIFA, because they would not otherwise bid for another international event – “even the women’s event” as some would say – while the same flawed governance and management is in place in Zurich.
If ever they needed reminding of the humiliation Australia has suffered at the hands of FIFA, not just in 2010 but many times before – just ask the ‘old-timers – they need only look at these two references.
First, this excellent (and long) overview of world football and the way it is run by Tariq Panja and colleagues from Bloomberg. Second, this documentary broadcast Monday night in Germany put together by investigative journalists from the ARD/WDR networks. Even if you can’t understand German, it’s relatively easy to follow the pictures. In putting the documentary together, they were they silenced by FIFA, ‘locked-out’ from attending the CONCACAF Congress, arrested and had their material confiscated (and erased) for four days in Doha.
Instead, FFA is opting to play the politics of the status quo. Many agree with the “pragmatic ‘whatever it takes’” approach. They hope that by remaining silent, by playing within FIFA’s flawed boundaries and rules, Australia will hopefully reap the reward of hosting the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Unlike the men’s World Cup, there are no pesky issues of sufficient stadia or rival winter sports for the women’s tournament because stadium requirements are similar to those for the Asian Cup and it would be bad form for the other winter sports to complain about a tournament for women. Even for them.
Yes, a Women’s World Cup in Australia would be terrific: a Women’s World Cup to remember.
But to paraphrase Davidde Corran – at what price?
More on the Whole of Football Plan later.