When will FIFA play fair?

Surprise, Surprise! Yet another allegation of corruption involving key FIFA officials tarnishes the beautiful game. Allegations of corruption and impropriety have been rife in recent years and the decision by the BBC to screen a TV programme about such allegations just days before the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, is widely believed to have compromised the strong bid from England.

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing association of arguably the most popular sport in the world, football (or soccer for any US readers). And yet although it is one of the largest and richest sporting organisations in the world, it appears to be the least accountable and an absolute law unto itself.

To achieve its mission to, 'Develop the game, touch the world, and build a better future', FIFA claims to have a responsibility to reach out and touch the world using football as a symbol of hope and integration.

The irony here is that FIFA continually promotes the mantra of 'Fair Play', which it defines extensively as, 'Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly and dishonestly.....and.....Playing fair earns you respect, while cheaters are detested'. It is about time, those who run FIFA took note of its own words and played 'FAIR'. Unfortunately, it is unlikely this will happen any time soon as they all appear too busy investigating each others corruption and impropriety.