FIFA Ethics Probe Complete: Justice or Gerrymandering?

Back when FIFA announced its ethics probe into the sale of World Cup votes by FIFA EXCOMM members, and collusion between bidding countries, I was suspicious of getting, frankly, any result.

I have to admit, while I do not believe FIFA took all the steps it should have to remove the doubt from the process, they did more than I expected.

Then again, my bar may have been set so low you could step over it.

From the FIFA media release, the following punishments have been meted out for the vote selling scandal. Note a CHF (swiss franc) is approximately equal to $1 US:

• Reynald Temarii (FIFA vice-president) was banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for a period of one year. Furthermore, he was fined CHF 5,000.
• Amos Adamu (FIFA Executive Committee member) was banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for a period of three years. Furthermore, he was fined CHF 10,000.
• Slim Aloulou (chairman of the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee) was banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for a period of two years. Furthermore, he was fined CHF 10,000.
• Ahongalu Fusimalohi (General Secretary of the Tonga FA) was banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for a period of three years. Furthermore, he was fined CHF 10,000.
• Amadou Diakite (member of the FIFA Referees Committee) was banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for a period of three years. Furthermore, he was fined CHF 10,000.
• Ismael Bhamjee (CAF honorary member) was banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for a period of four years. Furthermore, he was fined CHF 10,000.

It is significantly noteworthy that this action from FIFA now prevents Temarii and Adamu from voting on 02-DEC for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. This is a blow to England in 2018 as Temarii has shown his support for their bid (source). Particularly so as Temarii while he has vowed to appeal the decision, will do so after 02-DEC. Very interesting timing to me ... and another sign that things are not going well for England.

FIFA continued its decision by stating that there was not enough evidence to conclude any collusion between bid countries. This investigation was specifically targeted at Iberia (2018) and Qatar (2022). 

For those interested you can watch the FIFA ethics committee press conference here, or the post committee press conference here. A French boadcast report is here:

It seems that not everyone is applauding FIFA for how they handled this whole thing. An interesting take from PR Week states in part that FIFA has a long way to go from here. While they have done, okay with the investigation, the whole bid process need more work to fully restore their credibility.

Some other pundits agree with this position too while doing something was better than nothing, FIFA has a big hole to dig out of.

As we now race to voting on 02-DEC, at this juncture the big winners and losers to me are:

Temarii and Adamu: BIG losers. For getting involved in this corruption in the first place and trying to personally gain from THE game. The puny fines, suspensions, and loss of voting are the palest of punishments.

Aloulou, Fusimalohi, Diakite, and Bhamjee: Losers. For getting involved at all. They too deserve what they get, and then some.

FIFA: Losers. The punishment did not go far enough for the crimes committed. They continue to demonstrate an uncanny ability to put their head back in the sand in keeping the bidding and vote process secret.

England: Losers. I still believe that they will ultimately lose the 2018 bid for all the wrong reasons.

Sunday Times: BIG winners. Without their reporting it would have been another year of voting corruption with no one but FIFA knowing.

BBC: Winners. While their airing of the FIFA corruption programme may ultimately cost England their 2018 bid, it is not their fault. It is FIFA's myopic view of the world that everything should revolve around them, and those that don't will be cast out.

Iberia and Qatar: Winners. For being cleared of any collusion. While I don't believe there was none, I believe the threshold should be lower for bidding countries than EXCOMM members.

Unfortunately the biggest loser of all is THE game. While I am confident it will be back in all its majesty shortly after the vote, to be marred with such open corruption continues to erode all the good will built up for so long.

I can only hope FIFA takes a proactive approach to correcting these eroding effects, and becomes a transparent organization in dealing with such critical matters of sport. If for no other reason ...

For the good of the game.