Author: alangtomlinson

FIFA and Leadership: The Fall of Sepp Blatter

alangtomlinson

As FIFA approaches its most open presidential election in its history, scheduled for Friday February 26th 2016 in Zurich, perhaps this could be the end of the road for the dynastic excesses of its last two presidents - a good time to reflect on the fundamental flaws of its leadership. At the beginning of June… Continue reading FIFA and Leadership: The Fall of Sepp Blatter

WHY and When Blatter should have gone

alangtomlinson

WHY AND WHAN BLATTER SHOULD HAVE GONE: The Revolt of the ExCo (Executive Committee) in May 2002 As, at the beginning of Christmas week 2015, the last days of Sepp Blatter’s reign as FIFA president were further soiled in his extraordinary, egotistical and paranoid address to the world on confirmation of his eight-year ban from… Continue reading WHY and When Blatter should have gone

Putin’s Placeman and FIFA Ethics

alangtomlinson

Putin’s Placeman and FIFA Ethics: riding conflicts of interest in Russia’s international sport strategy Qatar has dominated the headlines in the FIFA corruption debate, since the 2010 decision to award two men’s World Cups at once, to Russia for 2018, to Qatar for 2022. Human rights issues, labour exploitation, the absurdity of the careless consideration… Continue reading Putin’s Placeman and FIFA Ethics

Burnley roots

alangtomlinson

Diaspora delight; two weekends in March As we converged on Turf Moor, via the Burnley Miners, we were coming in from all directions; Manchester, Brighton, the Fylde, Harrogate, Ripon. The match against Manchester City was a sellout, a mouth-watering prospect. The richest club in the country and current Premier league champions chasing points to close… Continue reading Burnley roots

Blatter’s first re-election: May Days 2002

alangtomlinson

BLATTER’S FIRST RE-ELECTION: May Days 2002 Staying power When Sepp Blatter’s first term as president of FIFA was coming to a close, just before the 2002 World Cup Finals in Korea/Japan, he was mired in controversies related to FIFA’s financial problems, based in large part upon the collapse of International Sports and Leisure (ISL), the… Continue reading Blatter’s first re-election: May Days 2002

Qatarstrophic consequences for Bin Hamman-FIFA alliance

alangtomlinson

Qatarstrophic consequences for Bin Hammam-FIFA alliance On June 16 2008, FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote gushingly to the Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, thanking him for his contribution to the campaign that, a decade before in June 1998, gained the Swiss the presidency of FIFA. “Without you, dear Mohamed, none of this would ever have been… Continue reading Qatarstrophic consequences for Bin Hamman-FIFA alliance

Zurich, March 1st 2014

alangtomlinson

It was Zurich’s turn, as has been the tradition in a World Cup finals year, to host the world’s football rule-making body at its February/March meeting – the 128th meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The usual sort of stuff was on the agenda – improvement to standards of goal-line technology, head covers… Continue reading Zurich, March 1st 2014

The best Olympics never; mystery, magic and magnificent trivia

alangtomlinson

[This piece is a version of ‘The best Olympics never’, in Mark Perryman (ed) London2012: How was it for Us?, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 2013, pp. 47-61] In its last issue of 2012 The Guardian asked of 2013 ‘what can we do to match the Olympics?’ – perhaps mainly as excuse to show on the… Continue reading The best Olympics never; mystery, magic and magnificent trivia