Hit them where it hurts most
The race for the Fifa presidency is beginning to get slightly lukewarm and one of the main contenders for the role has outlined what he proposes to do if he can oust Sepp Blatter next month.
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has disclosed his election manifesto this afternoon and is claiming that unless he is elected as the next head of world football, Fifa will keep losing money. Prince Ali claims sponsors will continue to withdraw their backing as long as Blatter is head of Fifa. Recently the organisation has lost five key sponsors and Al Hussein believes its all down to Blatter still dining at the top table:
The damage which is being exacted upon ‘Brand Fifa’ has financial implications. Sponsors have begun to vote with their feet. If drastic action is not taken urgently to restore the image of our governing body, we can expect revenues to reduce and, in turn, monies available to national associations to also go down.
Spekaing to the Associated Press today, the Fifa vice-president said that sponsors need to have trust in the world governing body.
Obviously I would like to see (the sponsors) back but we also like to see other options as well. It is important to have an organization that has a good reputation that sponsors feel totally confident in.
After controversy about the World Cup being held in Qatar in 2022, Hussein feels that a situation similar to what is proposed for Euro 2020 could work. That tournament is set to be hosted between 13 different nations. He feels that trying that for a World Cup could work too.
It is the world game and there should be rotation. But we have to be open-minded. I think it is also possible that two countries from different confederations could co-host the World Cup. Look at Europe in 2020 – a number of different regions or countries could host the World Cup – it’s in the past now but potentially the Gulf could have had a World Cup due to its close proximity.
One of the other main rivals to Sepp Blatter is Luis Figo, who believes that the World Cup should be extended to a 48-team competition. Hussein isn’t so sure of the benefits of an expanded competition and is warning that many factors need to be considered before altering Fifa’s centrepiece:
My concern is (the World Cup) will be used by some to make promises that maybe they won’t even be able to deliver on in the future, but are using it for election purposes. I am very hesitant about people playing politics with the most important flagship event of Fifa and possibly of sport in the world.
We need to speak to all the stakeholders, including the sponsors. People are making promises to enlarge the World Cup but in 2022 they are making the World Cup shorter in terms of time frame. We cannot end up with a situation where mistakes are made again.
The election takes place on May 29th and sees Blatter contest the role against Michael van Praag of the Netherlands, Figo and Prince Ali.
H/T to AP
