In the summer of 2015, scandal hit footballs head governing body, FIFA, when the US department of justice arrested 7 FIFA executives on corruption charges. These executives took bribes from Russia and Qatar to vote for them and send the next two world cups to these countries. FIFA’s long standing president Sepp Blatter denied any wrong doing in this case but I just cannot see how he could have been unaware to all of this happening under his nose. John Delaney has admitted to receiving a €5 million “loan” from Blatter following the infamous Henry handball in 2009. So in my eyes Blatter is corrupt, how in the name of god he is still FIFA president is beyond me. He is set to step down in the near future but even when that will be is unclear. He is subject to Swiss criminal investigation and is currently still FIFA president. Any other position of power in the world and he would be long gone as well thrown in jail.
The prevalence of diving in football has become a growing worry in recent years. Every game in the top leagues in the world these days has become littered with players throwing themselves on the ground looking to gain an unfair advantage. Something I don’t understand is why is it always the player that gets stick following an outrageous dive? I mean fair enough they look like an absolute eejit but he/ she wins a penalty for their team and ultimately contributes to their success without any real implications. Can you really blame them for doing what is best for their team? In my opinion, the blame lies solely with FIFA for once again failing football, as it has so many times in recent years. They need to look at the success of TMO in rugby and implement a similar system, until then, diving will be a huge part of football. Managers, players and fans alike have been calling out for goal line technology for decades with their pleas falling on deaf ears at FIFA. Finally in 2014, goal line technology was implemented and has been a huge success. Yet they remain unwilling to improve the fairness of the sport for the sake of slowing a game up by 30 seconds to separate the dives from the penalties.
Despite all this negativity, football is still the sport I love. Corruption is still a worry but eventually it will end. Hopefully, Blatter will step aside and allow a younger more down to earth president who understands the fans frustrations with the past regime and makes genuine change for the good of the sport because it is badly needed. Fresh ideas from a president with an open mind and interested in improving the game rather than lining his/ her own pockets would be a start. As for diving, something like an independent review team that takes a look at each game and separates the dives from the fouls and punishes the perpetrator may make players less likely to dive. Also for the big decisions in a game such as a penalty decision, a similar system to the rugby TMO should be introduced as players need to know that their diving will not result in them receiving a penalty. These changes may or may not improve the sport but regardless football will continue to grow and its following worldwide will never wane.
Author: Mark Prendergast - 4th year BB (Hons) in Recreation and Sport Management student.