Sepp Blatter’s Resignation and Soccer Reform
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
JUNE 3, 2015
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It’s not entirely clear yet what led Sepp Blatter to decide to step down as president of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, only four days after he was defiantly re-elected to a fifth term. It may be that his lawyers advised him this was the best way to combat corruption charges that would soon entangle him, or that major sponsors urged him to move along. In any case, his departure clears the way to start reforming the culture of corruption and impunity that have long tarnished the world’s most popular sport.
That will not be easy. In his 17 years at FIFA’s helm, Mr. Blatter greatly increased the influence of Asians and Africans in world soccer and oversaw a steep increase in revenues generated by World Cup tournaments. These achievements earned him strong support from members of FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, even as reports of large-scale bribery in the awarding of FIFA tournaments multiplied. The same members who voted overwhelmingly for Mr. Blatter on Friday, after the United States Justice Department announced indictments against senior soccer and sports-marketing executives, will undoubtedly resist any successor who is likely to wield a broom. Mr. Blatter has suggested that he will remain in charge until a special congress is convened, which may not take place until the end of the year or early next year.
In the meantime, supporters of the status quo will probably seek to portray the investigation by prosecutors in the United States as another case of American meddling and as sour grapes for losing the 2022 World Cup tournament to Qatar — as Mr. Blatter did when the arrests and charges were first announced, and as Vladimir Putin did almost immediately after. That the American charges were followed by Switzerland’s announcement of its own investigation, and applauded by the European soccer federation, UEFA, will no doubt be resented by many in developing nations. That’s why it is imperative that the United States, Switzerland and members of FIFA make clear the serious damage done to nations where tournaments are held, rich or poor.
The process would be far less contentious if Mr. Blatter, who has shunted aside all previous allegations of corruption, were to leave immediately, allowing an interim president to start introducing reforms and to prepare the next election. So long as Mr. Blatter remains in the post (an election for president may not take place until the end of this year or early next year), many FIFA officials will probably resist cooperating with the American and Swiss investigations, as well as resist measures to open FIFA salaries and internal procedures to public scrutiny, install effective safeguards against bribery and review the bidding process under which Russia and Qatar won their tournaments.
The investigations and the resignation of Mr. Blatter are huge goals scored against the sleaze in FIFA. But the game is not yet over.
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