In a May 27th NY Times article, “After
Indicting 14 Soccer Officials, U.S. Vows to End Graft in FIFA,” by
Stephanie Clifford and Matt Apuzzo, a number of concerns are raised regarding
the executive committee of FIFA.
Reportedly, one member “shopped his ballot to the highest bidder.” The article goes on to say that, over the
course of the last two decades, soccer officials and marketing executives have
been involved in “shadowy dealing and $150 million in bribes.”
The authors underline that there are billions of dollars at
stake for the privilege of hosting the World Cup. If the final decision can hinge on a single
vote, is it surprising that members of the executive committee would put their
votes up for sale? As outlined in the
article, international soccer is described “in terms normally reserved for Mafia
families or drug cartels” and given the same “charges under racketeering laws
usually applied to such criminal organizations.”
Given that greed is innate in many human beings, it only
makes sense that those who wield as much power as members of FIFA would take
advantage of their positions. Although I
wholeheartedly disagree with their actions, it is evident that these people
project themselves and are perceived by many as great and powerful
individuals. In my view, John
Dalberg-Acton’s quote succinctly encapsulates the entire situation: "Power
tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost
always bad men.”
- B. J. T. Pepin