Alas, trouble is brewing (excuse the pun!) FIFA's commercial diktats are clashing with the scruples and public health concerns of the Brazilian authorities. Believe it or not, a game based on health and exercise, has as a major sponsor of its international federation, a beer company, Budweiser. Trouble is since 2003 Brazilian law has banned alcohol from being sold in sports stadiums for perfectly proper and sensible reasons. FIFA insists that Brazil enacts its 'World Cup Law'. This means reversing the alcohol ban, so Budweiser can flog its beers at World Cup Venues (12 stadiums) and also enacting images rights protection laws for FIFA's commercial partners. This issue is now 5 years old, but the Brazilian Parliament has not yet buckled. Supporters of the status quo argue that Brazil never in fact agreed to this precondition in 2007 when they were awarded the World Cup. There is significant resentment about the amount of power ceded to FIFA in return for the tournament. In particular the Health Minister is insisting that the ban will not be reversed, although there must be a suspicion that he is playing to the national gallery. The Sports Minister has however conceded that alcohol will be sold.
Similar laws exist in Russia, host of the following tournament in 2018. However newly re-elected Russian President Vladimir Putin, a figure perhaps more in tune with the realpolitik of sporting commercialism is already suggesting that the laws may be changed. I have no doubt that they will be.
FIFA makes all sorts of demands upon host countries. In order to win the bid host countries have to agree to tax breaks, stadium improvements and infrastructure. Very often the host country is placed in economic or political difficulty.
FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke, Sepp Blatter's right hand man, caused a massive outcry and political stink when addressing preceived delays in progress with Brazilian stadia and infrastructure improvements. Speaking in French he claimed that 'I dont understand why things are not moving. The stadiums are not on schedule anymore and why are a lot of things late?' He concluded tha tthe Brazilian authorities needed a 'kick up the backside'! Needless to say this caused immense offence and Valcke was forced to issue a grovelling apology and to claim that his remarks were misunderstood. I have read the French version, they were not. Unfortunately it transpires that Valcke may have a point, in any language. Ports and hotels have not been upgraded to provide the necessary accommodation and FIFA has now effectively created a crisis board to address its concerns. Just dont say it too loudly in Braxil
Meanwhile Brazilian football is mired in controversy with its National Governing Body President, Texeira, forced to resign in the face of relentless corruption allegations.Sepp blatter was obliged to attend a summit with Brazilian President Rousseff, minus Valcke, but with football legend Pele drafted in, to attempt to get the project back on its rightful track. Yet still the contentious clauses in the World Cup bill before Parliament remain to be enacted.
FIFA insists that its will shall prevail (failure is too awful to contemplate), but I wonder if they may be underestimating the resistance of a developing nation to being dictated too. Who will blink first? With a PR disaster looming, it may be FIFA which needs a face saving compromise although it is in commercially choppy waters. Organisational chaos would ensue if Brazil suddenly became unviable. Certainly in future FIFA will have to get its World Cup host negotiations right.
Meanwhile, a FIFA bloody nose - I'll drink to that, and preferably with a non FIFA sponsored beer!!
What does the photo of the hot chic at the end have to do with alcohol-related mortality rate and FIFA power struggle? I'm PISSED. Absolute RUBBISH photo that undermines your words & efforts. How's that?
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