The problem is that Blatter has been building up a crony power base amongst the other federations because they're easily corruptible. He doesn't give a shit about world football except inasmuch as it can be used to protect his own power.
When the 79-year-old walks out into Zurich's vast Hallenstadion on Friday for Fifa's presidential election, he is unlikely to fear any opposition. There are just 209 electors, many of them representing small footballing nations, and Mr Blatter has been cultivating them for years.
If giving the power to small countries includes giving the world cup to Qatar, then fuck that.
OK, leaving human rights issues, dodgy government issues etc. aside. Why shouldn't other countries - countries where football is maybe a minority sport - not get the world cup?
The world cup is a fantastic driver of football take-up.
In Europe we have the most developed football leagues on the planet. We've already got a better product than the world cup can possibly give us. Watching England in a national tournament is like watching paint dry. I'd pretty much say that for the whole world cup too - local and international football (via the Champion's League) is much more interesting.
Grass roots football needs a spark - and that spark in many cases is the world cup - and it undoubtedly helps the game grow.growth of "soccer" in the US has actually come from completely the opposite direction; grass-roots football.
It's part of a mechanism of interest generation, participation, more interest, etc - and snowballing from there.wiki said:As part of the United States' bid to host the 1994 World Cup, U.S. Soccer pledged to create a professional outdoor league. Major League Soccer launched in 1996, which helped develop American players in a way that was not possible without a domestic league.
Whilst I don't disagree with much of the rest of your post (especially the best world cups being held in europe) - I do disagree with this:
Grass roots football needs a spark - and that spark in many cases is the world cup - and it undoubtedly helps the game grow.
Of course, there's a time lag. But USA94 is a good point to bring up:
It's part of a mechanism of interest generation, participation, more interest, etc - and snowballing from there.
Btw - there's empty white-elephant stadia in South America too, you know...
Whilst I don't disagree with much of the rest of your post (especially the best world cups being held in europe) - I do disagree with this:
Grass roots football needs a spark - and that spark in many cases is the world cup - and it undoubtedly helps the game grow.
Of course, there's a time lag. But USA94 is a good point to bring up:
It's part of a mechanism of interest generation, participation, more interest, etc - and snowballing from there.
Btw - there's empty white-elephant stadia in South America too, you know...
So, what you're saying is that corruption is endemic?As for white elephant stadia in Brazil, pure graft; in South Africa stadia needed to be built just to have somewhere to play, that wasn't necessary at all in Brazil, except old stadia didn't line any pockets
Frankly, @Scouse your argument is bullshit, Blatter didn't do the things he did to 'Viva la revolution' and give the power to the small nations, he nicely selected the small nations that have the money and questionable ethics to get free votes.
So, what you're saying is that corruption is endemic?
Whilst I don't doubt FIFA's corrupt - so are UEFA, the FA, yadda yadda yadda. Gunning for Blatter is just a way for the old guard to keep a tighter grip on the game...
I'm not saying that he's doing it for anythiing other than personal power. I *am* saying that, regardless of reason, the old guard is taking a kicking. And dilution of power is a good thing in the end...
Brazil is a nation which absolutely adore football though.
Qatar is a money pit, the working classes there are economic tourists (even though they get fuck all.)
Frankly, @Scouse your argument is bullshit, Blatter didn't do the things he did to 'Viva la revolution' and give the power to the small nations, he nicely selected the small nations that have the money and questionable ethics to get free votes.
If he wanted to give power to small nations, why isn't the world cup in Macedonia?
It's all talk, I think they know they have to put up with sepp for another few years. They could make those years very uncomfortable for him though.Hopefully UEFA just leave and form a new org.
Can someone explain to me how Africa gets 50 odd votes, yet central america only gets 30 odd?