It has been an extraordinary week of controversy and in-fighting, with Blatter taking centre-stage. The Swiss has traded accusations with his own vice-president and head of Concacaf, Jack Warner, and the head of Asian football, Mohammed Bin Hammam, both of whom have subsequently found themselves suspended.
Blatter, who himself has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Fifa's ethics committee, has called for unity amongst the Fifa 'family'. Presumably, in this family unit, Warner and Bin Hammam are now the estranged relatives. So too, it seems, are the English and Scottish FAs, who both called for Wednesday's election to be postponed after the only opposing candidate (Bin Hammam) dropped out of the race. The reaction to this show of disobedience has been vitriolic.
Blatter has stated that the English FA should have set an example. The head of the Cypriot FA Costakis Koutsokoumnis has blamed the UK media, referring to the "beautifully English word: 'allegations'." Julio Grondona, Argentinian Football President, claimed that Fifa "always have attacks from England, mostly with lies and the support of journalism."
The Fifa family's anger towards England is a prime example of how detached from reality Football's hierarchy has become. The allegations of corruption are such that action has been taken. Warner and Bin Hammam have been suspended. Blatter himself has promised reform. None of this would have happened if the claims were foundationless paper-talk.
It is rare in itself for the FA's blazer brigade to find themselves in the righteous camp against allegations of organisational corruption and failure, but in this instance all the FA are guilty of is standing up for what is right: how can an election be democratic and fair with only one candidate?
Under the ever-increasing spot-light, Blatter and co have begun to appear rather more like mafiosos than diplomats, right down to their self-awarded title: the Fifa 'family'. Blatter claimed that a special committee had been set up to persuade the FA against opposing the election - perhaps with an offer they couldn't refuse. He has asserted that outside forces will not force Fifa to change - he insists that this power will be kept within the family.
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| The Godfather |
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| Fifa President Sepp Blatter |
The roots of Blatter's unchallenged rule burrow deep. To say he has been in charge for thirteen years, as President of Fifa, is to sell his role short. He has actually been in power at Fifa since 1975, with six years as Technical Director and seventeen as General Secretary, immediately before his ascension to the presidency. It could be argued that Blatter has single-handedly overseen the development (for good or bad) of the modern, commercially-driven game.
As for the FA, David Bernstein may not have woken up with a horse's head in his bed, yet, but it is clear that England is now on the outside of World Football's governing body. This does not bode well for England's chances in future World Cup bids. It does not, on the face of things, give us much hope for influencing the future of the world game.
On the other hand, the status and profitability of the Premier League does make England important. If the FA stick to their guns they may be able to force some change. If other major European leagues would unite with England - the likes of Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and Holland - then Uefa could become a real problem for the Dons of Fifa.
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