Khama is right
Mmegi Editor | Friday June 5, 2015 15:29
He told BBC Radio on Wednesday that he welcomes the sudden announcement by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that he would step down from the organisation’s presidency in the next few months.
Khama, a sports enthusiast, said; “It was so painful and such pity that he decided to stand as FIFA president after a period that he he’d been presiding over so much corruption in that world body”.
He said he was disappointed that African football federations, including Botswana Football Association (BFA), backed Blatter as “if he was God’s gift to the game”.
We want to agree with Khama that Blatter does not have the moral authority to continue as FIFA president following the recent corruption scandal that rocked the organisation. The arrest of senior FIFA senior executives at a hotel in Zurich has clearly tainted his image. The officials have since been indicted for racketeering, conspiracy and corruption.
Widespread corruption happened unabated for close to two decades under his command. His two direct subordinates have also been indicted. He is also the subject of an FBI investigations, according to international media reports.
Because he knew that he had overwhelming support of FIFA delegates, the 79-year-old Blatter defiantly stood for the FIFA presidential elections and won two weeks ago. Instead of punishing him, several football associations’ heads rewarded him with another term. That was a sad day for football.
Why would anyone vote for someone whose leadership is in doubt? CAF president Issa Hayatou this week tried to justify the African vote.
“What made us support Sepp Blatter is that he has truly helped the African continent. By allocating the 2010 World Cup [to South Africa], by the various training courses he organised, by the various sporting facilities constructed. All of this rallied the continent to support his cause. There is nothing more, contrary to what is believed,” said the Cameroonian.
This argument, however, holds no water. At hand is not what he did or did not do for Africa; it is whether he has the moral authority to lead FIFA after failing it. The issue is that the man failed to show leadership. The organisation is a mess because of him. The issue is that for many years, he presided over what the US law enforcement authorities call ‘the World Cup of fraud’.
It is shameful that in voting for Blatter, African countries cared less about the dark cloud of corruption hanging over their messiah’s head. For the African leaders, it was Blatter or nothing. In the real world this is blind loyalty. And it’s dangerous. Africa is facing serious issues of underdevelopment because of this blind loyalty to its leaders.
We agree with Khama that there are so many people out there who could lead FIFA, and do as much, or even more for the continent than Blatter. This obsession that Blatter was and is the only person who cared about African football is false.
Today’s thought
“Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.”
- Karl Kraus