Article Taxonomy: Football Governance

The perils of leaving Fifa

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Many in Australia think that the English press has over reacted to the country’s failure to win the World Cup.   In Australia the need is now to concentrate on boosting the A-League which has faced many fiinancial challenges in recent months.


Australia was expelled from Fifa in the early 1960s for signing £10 poms (and immigrants from other countries) who had played in the UK and elsewhere and not paying any transfer fees.   They soon found that they lost out through not being a member.

Swiss swoop on corruption in sport

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Various allegations have been made about corruption in Fifa, although none of them have been substantiated in a court of law.  One of the difficulties in investigating whether these allegations have any substance is that Fifa is not really accountable to anyone.

Big freeze hits smaller Scottish clubs

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Like any small business, Scottish football clubs face big cash flow problems.   This is particularly true for Dundee who are fighting to survive.   Although SPL matches went ahead last weekend with foreign referees, lower division matches did not.   For a club like Clyde if a game goes ahead they may not be able to meet their financial obligations.   And now clubs have been hit by the big freeze

Panorama programme was a mistake

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Having watched last night’s BBC Panorama programme on Fifa, I am even more convinced that its screening at that time was mistake.   Its defenders will no doubt point out that it exposed apparent serious corruption on the part of three Fifa officials, if one is to believe the contents of the document flourished on the programme which had arrived in a brown envelope from a ‘trusted source’.

Who will host the 2018 World Cup?

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The smart money is now on Spain and Portugal hosting the 2018 World Cup.   Spain are the World Cup holders; they have one of the best two leagues in the world (some would say the best); and both countries have some impressive stadia.   Transport links by rail within Spain have improved by leaps and bounds.

Swiss league changes may have wider significance

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Changes in the structure of the Swiss leagues may have a broader significance for European football in the sense that they may be a harbinger of similar changes elsewhere.   In summary there will be no more playoffs between 1st and 2nd divisions; only 1 team relegated/promoted; reduction from 16 to 10 teams in Div 2 and the creation of a promotional division 3 to promote U21 teams.