FIFA Scandal: An American invasion of sovereign soccer territory

FIFA's President: Sepp Blatter; Credit: nextimpulsesports.com

Hardly anyone who follows soccer would doubt the world’s soccer organising body is corrupt. The corruption is systemic and deeply entrenched that it will take more than rounding up few officials of FIFA to clean up the big mess within the organisation. America’s FBI and Department of Justice swung into action by making arrest of FIFA officials in Switzerland on the eve of FIFA’s congress. Fourteen officials were indicted, two of them American citizens. The FBI claimed their offences range from bribery, kickbacks, racketeering to other forms of underhand deals worth US$150 million. The investigation covered offences which were committed over two decades. 

Much as probing criminal conducts of FIFA officials is commendable, it however raises serious question as regards the use of American powers beyond its jurisdiction. FIFA is an international organisation domiciled in Zurich, Switzerland. Hence, probing such organisation is outside the jurisdiction of FBI or any American investigative body for that matter.  More worrisome is the fact that no American banks or individual banker are indicted so far in relation to the on-going investigation. Yet, FBI claimed they derive powers to probe FIFA because some of the criminal acts were conducted through American banks. 

The timing of the arrest and indictment also raises serious questions, Owing to how America instigates regime change of leaders that don’t dance to their tunes; one could not but believe the timing was mainly targeted at scuttling FIFA’s president re-election. America and the West had expressed their dissatisfaction about Russia hosting the 2018 Soccer World Cup. However, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter has been a staunch backer of Russia rights to hosting the mundial. The west led by America had to explore other option which involves getting Sepp Blatter to step aside while they install a more pliant candidate who would easily do their bidding. Despite the America and the West backing an opponent, Sepp Blatter emerged victorious with 133 votes to 77 polled by his Jordanian opponent.

Sepp Blatter appeared confident in his first press conference following his re-election. He insinuated the indictment was an attempt by United States to embarrass FIFA because three American journalists were at the arrest venue. This clearly indicates the arrest and indictments were premeditated to achieve a desired outcome. That is, embarrass FIFA to ensure Blatter’s resignation. The resignation may not have happened prior to election; however, in a move that caught everyone by surprise, Blatter announced he would resign in an extraordinary congress likely to take place at the end of the year. 

While this announcement may represent a partial victory for United States and its reactionary European gangs, United States should beware of its jurisdictional limits and not to treat international organisations like FIFA as another Iraq or Afghanistan. Acting as the World’s police with an exceptionalist mentality would constitute more harm than good to a peaceful world order.