UK House of Commons.
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
2018 World Cup Bid
Sixth Report of Session 2010–12
Mr John Whittingdale MP (Conservative, Maldon) (Chair).
MP John Whittingdale Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee.
Dr. Therese Coffey MP (Conservative, Coastal)
Damian Collins MP (Conservative, Folkestone and Hythe)
Philip Davies MP (Conservative, Shipley)
Paul Farrelly MP (Labour, Newcastle-under-Lyme0
Alan Keen MP (Labour, Feltham and Heston)
Mrs Louise Mensch (Bagshawe) MP (Conservative, Corby)
Mr Adrian Sanders MP (Liberal Democrat, for Torbay)
Mr Jim Sheridan MP (Labour, Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Mr Tom Watson MP (Labour, West Bromwich East)
Summary
England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup cost the Football Association (FA) £15 million and local councils £2.1 million. Had England won the right to host the 2018 World Cup, there would have been substantial economic, social and sporting benfits to the country.
During the inquiry into domestic football governance, the Committee heard allegations of unethical behaviour by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) representatives during the bidding process for the right to host the 2018 World Cup, and noted criticism of the performance of the England bid team. The Committee decided to hold a one-off oral evidence session on England's 2018 World Cup bid, just as the previous Committee had looked at the similarly unsuccessful England bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
The Committee were appalled by the allegations of corruption made against members of the FIFA Executive Committee during the course of their inquiry. Although FIFA have been challenged in other evidence, the Committee felt they were sufficiently serious enough for FIFA to commission a full, urgent and independent investigation and the outcome to be made public. The Committee have instead said that FIFA has given the "impression of wishing to sweep all allegations of misconduct under the carpet" and of "dismissing anyone bringing allegations to them with an approach bordering on contempt."
Contemptable!
The Committee concurred with the conclusions of the FA independent review with regard to the need for greater transparency at FIFA. They urged FIFA to conduct a thorough review of its governance of bidding processes, incorporating independent input to address systemic reform, as well as the conduct of individuals, taking heed of the example set by the International Olympic Committee following allegations of bribery and corruption relating to Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Torch
The Committee went on to state that the record of Sepp Blatter, "does not inspire confidence that this will occur" however, the Committee is now looking to him now to fulfil the undertakings that he gave at the time of his re-election to the Presidency. They [the Committee] have also urged the FA and other national associations to ensure that Sepp Blatter is held to account for them.
The Chosen One.
The Committee also found the decision to drop the investigation following the resignation of FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner extraordinary and the committee says, "it suggests that nothing has changed." However, as a first step in restoring confidence, the Committee have called upon FIFA to publish the Ethics Committee Report.
Little Jack Warner...No Longer Sits in the Corner...Counting, Oops! Channelling...Someone Else's...
and....USD 360,000+ from Yours...the BULLY!
The Committee went on to state that England's bid team appeared to have lacked a number of components for a successful bid. Lessons did not appear to have been learned from previous studies with regard to the composition and unity of the bid team, and the messages it needed to project. More fundamentally, it appears that the groundwork for a successful bid had not been laid effectively with football's international bodies.
The Football Association (FA) can learn from England's failed bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ (and more recently for UEFA's Under21 Championships, where the English candidacy received no votes) by the new leadership of the FA and how it can proceed into the future by taking steps to improve its international standing and impact.
Mike Lee OBE is VERO chief executive, and former director of communications and public affairs for London's successful 2012 Olympic bid. He gave oral evidence at the one-off session to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Hearing into 'England's Failed 2018 FIFA World Cup™ bid'.
Mr. Lee proposed 5 Action Points relating to the future of international relations at the FA, which he thought the Committee might like to consider to be of interest when considering recommendations for their final report.
To the....
1) The FA, in conjunction with the Premier League, should conduct a thorough review of their activities within UEFA and FIFA in order to clarify the most effective and strategic use of English football representatives within both organisations and perhaps seek to replicate the International Leadership Programme created by UK Sport to identify administrative and political talent to be coached and encouraged to fulfil international roles in the future.
2) This review should also identify the key Committees and Working Groups within both UEFA and FIFA where English football's voice can be most usefully heard and agree a target list of UEFA and FIFA tournaments and events, including Congresses and seminars, that might be hosted in England over the next 10 years.
Now ENGLAND....
3) The FA should consider and open a debate on the future of the 'Guaranteed Places' for the Home Countries on the International Football Association Board as well as the British Vice-Presidency of FIFA.
Jim Boyce: The current British FIFA Vice-President.
These are in truth outdated positions of privilege and largely, as recent events, e.g. goal-line technology and the 2018 bid, have shown, without power. They are not utilised and yet are understandably a source of quiet resentment in many other parts of the world.
Even if The FA do not want to relinquish these positions at least they should be asked i] what is their real purpose in the years ahead and ii] what are the advantages that could be gained by volunteering to stand down and open them up as part of an overall FIFA reform process.
4) The FA should set out a 10 year plan for their international development programme. There currently is a review underway and this may well include cutting budgets and closing down projects in Africa. This does not seem to fit with the progressive, long-term approach to building friendships and alliances for the future that is sorely needed.
5) The FA should step up and lead efforts to ensure a genuine Team GB football team at the London 2012 Games, it is also a signal of a willingness to move beyond the apparent restrictions created by the positions of privilege enjoyed by the Home Countries as outlined earlier.
The FA should actively and openly campaign for their fellow FAs (Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland) to support this popular and engaging idea.
David Bernstein Chairman, Football Association (FA).
The Committee also recommended that the Government review its advice and its own actions on bidding for international sporting events in light of the Committee's Report and any future FA report on the 2018 bid. Government should also give due consideration to, in particular, it's early announcement of the bid and whether sufficient attention was given to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the England bid, both before the bid was declared and during the bidding process.
Although this is just a summary, I do have some personal thoughts as an ardent football supporter of the 'Beautiful Global Game'.
The Football Association Chairman, David Bernstein said "On 19 May 2011 The Football Association announced it would be abstaining in the forth coming election for the FIFA Presidency.
"There were two main reasons for this decision. First, a concern, that a series of allegations relating to FIFA ExCo Members made it difficult to support either candidate.
"Secondly, a concern about the lack of transparency and accountability within the organisation, contributing to the current unsatsfactory situation.
David Bernstein wanted and called for other national associations to support these two initiatives:
1. To postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for President.
2. To appoint a genuinely independent external party to make recommendations regarding improved governance and compliance procedures aand structures throughout the FIFA decision-making processes for consideration by the full membership.
"This has been a very damaging time for the reputation of FIFA and therefore the whole of football. To improve confidence in the way the game is governed at the very top, we believe these requests would be a positive step forward and the minimum that should take place".
We are ALL AWARE of what occurred at the 61st Congress in Zurich, so I shall not go back over 'Old Ground'.
Firstly, I would put a question to the chairman of the Football Association (FA), David Bernstein, and that question would be, why is there currently a UK House of Commons - Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee Football Governance Inquiry (on Domestic Football)?
Though the FA's statement makes perfect sense regarding FIFA's corruption scandal, there is an old idiom that rings out Loud, Clear and True!
"Those who live in Glass Houses should Not Throw Stones"
Especially so, in the face of the English FA, whose obvious stance against FIFA, can be described as nothing but Hypocritical and Implausible.
For many years, the FA, under the stewardship of Geoff Thompson (1999-2008):
Lord David Triesman (2008-2010) with the...'Chosen One'
...and of course the current chairman of the Football Association (FA) David Bernstein (2011-Present):
The FA has itself been presented with evidence of the failings of it's own governance and they themselves have not made the necessary changes.
Back in 2003, the All Party Parliamentary Football Group began an Inquiry into "English Football and it's Finances" because of the realisation that the gravitation of wealth towards the clubs at the top of the FA Premier League was accelerating. There was clear evidence that success, more than ever before, could be "bought".
It had become obvious in the first few decades after the beginning of competitive football in the second half of the 19th Century that the clubs based in the larger conurbations were going to experience greater success than the smaller clubs because of their larger supporter base. Many of the clubs formed in those early days of competitive football exist only in history and have long since disappeared. It was money of course, even in those early days, that began to make a difference as players found they could earn a living from the game and the introduction of the transfer fee system meant that the wealthier clubs could attract better players to improve the quality of their teams. That has always been an accepted part of the game. The game has continued to flourish particularly in Western Europe - assisted by the enhancement of global communications and marketing. Many however, had expressed concerns that there was an increasing danger that football on a world-wide basis was being damaged by the gravitation of more world class players to the FA Premier League. There is a good argument by some that good financial investment and management should be rewarded and true as this may be, to a certain extent, there are few who would argue that football trophies should be awarded to a club on the basis of its wealth or the size of its debts.
The Financial Global Estate has experienced since 2008, triggered by a liquidity shortfall in the United States Banking System "the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s" which has resulted in the collapse of large institutions, the bailout of banks by national governments and downturns in stock markets around the Globe. It has contributed to the failure of key businesses, declines in consumer wealth and a significant decline in economic activity.
Beneath the veneer of prosperity there are football clubs in Europe who themselves have been caught in the throes of a deep and painful economic crisis. The amount of debt that eminent Professional and Amateur clubs are saddled with, many are struggling to keep their heads above water and there are some who have drowned under a rip-tide of financial pressure that went beyond their control. Also there are clubs decaying as the cancer of mismanagement spreads from balance sheets to take entire institutions in it's hold (Administration).
Part Two of a series I am blogging about will be forth coming as time permits me, but for now, stay well, stay safe and have a Great Weekend.
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