Blatter faces Grassroots criticism
Grassroot movements are challenging FIFA to change. Photo (c) by Flickr user AsianFC. Used under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
21.02.2011
By Anders Christian LarsenIn a recent commentary on the Sports Illustrated website, Wahl suggests himself as a candidate for the FIFA throne and says that the election “desperately needs an outsider” as the current rival to the reelection of Blatter, Qatar’s Mohamed Bin Hammam “is just another FIFA insider”.
Furthermore he criticizes that: “Blatter is one of only two FIFA presidents in the last 37 years”, and further states that: “FIFA has as much transparency and credibility as the Mubarak regime”.
Wahls commentary is just another in a rising string of rebellion against Sepp Blatter's attempt to take the FIFA presidency for the forth term in a row.
Change FIFA
The grassroots organisation Change FIFA, founded by British businessman Oliver Fowler, is also working for a change in the FIFA head office. Launched before the December World Cup vote was held, the Change FIFA campaign advocates a democratic, transparent and open FIFA that returns the game to the people.
Change FIFA has floated two options - to form a new world governing body for football or to reform FIFA, which would require a combination of intense legal and political pressure alongside the current forces of mass public desire for change.
The Change FIFA campaign has already prominent followers, as the former England manager Graham Taylor, who backs the campaign in a BBC article, saying that: “There is a need for that organization (FIFA) to be more open and democratic than it is".
According to investigative reporter Andrew Jennings the only way FIFA will be reformed is from a "bottom up" rather than a "top down" approach using the grassroots potential.
He says, in the same BBC article, that: "I think the only answer is grassroots pressure up the feeding chain from the counties to the national associations and onwards to the FIFA Congress"
The FIFA presidential election is to be held on June 1 2011.
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Orcun Kamali,
North Cyprus,
28.03.2011 11:25:
Change FIFA,needs to change Mentality,Change mentality needs to change personality.FIFA is getting closed to all people with it's oldering mind.The world is changing.I agree the time of Blatter is completed he shouldnt be a candidate again.World football should thank to him and let him to get rest and then to give a opportunity to an others with new fresh breath.
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Dave Allport,
UK,
21.02.2011 10:34:
Agree with Maureen. Blatter and his cronies have been in power far too long. With corruption rumours rife, and the failure to move with the times and bring in new technology the world game has suffered badly. They preach "Fair Play" but how is it fair for the likes of a lampard goal and others to be disaloud when the whole world knew otherwise. And how daft is it for the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 in Russia and Quatar. He lives in cloud cookoo land and he need to go. Go for it, It will be a long awaited breath of fresh air. Good Luck.
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Maureen O'Neill,
Cleveland, OH USA,
21.02.2011 10:23:
I really hope that your group reaches out to Mr. Wahl and Change FIFA. All three of you should join forces and get the world's sports fans behind you.