Football Hierarchy

FIFA

This is the world governing body. It is a private organisation, based in Switzerland.  The current leader has a vision of a truly “World Game”. He gets elected by the large voting contingent of Africa, Middle East and the Far East. In return these small nations “club together” and a country in their region, more often than not, gets awarded the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mr Blatter has no significant support from the Americas or Western Europe. These areas are of course where the best players come from and play. And needless to say, the world finances of football are centred.

You have spotted the politics that goes on now haven’t you? Money does not talk. The voting in of the leader is what it’s all about.

EUFA

This is the governing body of Europe. The person who is elected leader is a very close ally of the FIFA leader. Well, you would be wouldn’t you, because you want the FIFA job in the end!

As they are the governing body of the richest footballing area on the planet – by a country mile – the leadership just has its hand on the tiller and does very little.

The FA

Hands up everyone who thinks The FA run the English game. Well, legally they do, but in practice they don’t. When the Premier League was set up, The FA conceded control of the game in all but name.

The good news is that this decision has resulted in the Premier League having the very best players in the world and stadiums to match. The standard of football is by and large, breathtaking.

The bad news is that the national team suffers. In the Club v Country conflict, there is only one winner: the club as it pays the players colossal wages.

And the people who run the FA are not exactly the best businessmen. And have you ever seen them issue a 5 or 10 year plan to “progress the game”? No me neither.

I suspect that as the money side is so massive, they will not be able to wrestle things away from the Premier League for a considerable period of time. Given that the people who run the Premier League have the bigger brains, the FA may NEVER get control back.

And how does the FA influence EUFA or FIFA. Well, it doesn’t. There are masses of committees for all sorts of things and we only have a couple of seats in entirety. What a waste of space.

So if anyone actually knows what the FA Executive actually does, let me know!! (Poncing about does not count by the way)

Bearing all this in mind, why are we so upset when the World Cup is awarded elsewhere? I am 49 years old. I genuinely believe England will not host the World Cup in my lifetime.

And for the record, yes I would have a stab at sorting the FA out. Trouble is I won’t be allowed as I will use up a large boxful of P45’s and everyone will hate me as I go into “Dictator mode”. Being a Dictator is the only way to properly sort out the mess.

World Cup Hosting

We are being bombarded about the possibility of England hosting the 2018 World Cup. A fundamental argument is that we have the best infrastructure to host the event.

In my view, England will not host the World Cup for a very long time. Here are the reasons why:

You have to think like FIFA. Their actions clearly show that football is truly the “world game”. Think about it. The next World Cup is in South Africa – the first time an African nation has held the event. Asia, Europe and both North and South America have held the event.

With an event every four years, there will be a rotation of continents. Subject of course to finances ruling the roost. And therein lays the tale. The big money is in Europe. Now I have no idea about how the finances work, but my best guess is as follows:

An Asian Tournament should make a profit.

An African Tournament is likely to loose money as the whole infrastructure needs to be created to hold the event. But a financial loss is suffered as it promotes the world game concept.

Tournaments in North and South America will probably break even or make a smallish profit.

A European Tournament is the major “kerching” moment. The entire infrastructure is in place, high stadium ticket prices will be paid, and an unlimited number of sponsors will be wanting TV coverage.

So I would suggest that a European tournament should take place every 3rd event. That’s one every 12 years. And the queue comprises:

England, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. And waiting in the wings are the old Eastern Block countries. As FIFA want a true World game, it makes sense for this to add say two countries to the list. That makes a total of 8 countries.

8 European countries times once every 12 years comes to 92 years. England held the 1966 event, so roll on 2058 – nowhere near 2018. Unless of course someone comes up with a stupid bid that FIFA simply cannot ignore…….