How Fifa handles regulations – a quick review

FIFA, as we know, does scandals.  And really, it doesn’t mind, because each time we look at them they have another expansionist plan in the offing.  So the scandal gets attention and makes sure more people know about the new plan: this time it is the 64 team WC final in 2030.   And since they have the media on their side, and very few people are worried about the impact on players and the clubs, why not grab as much as possible and keep on pushing.

We already know that the countries bidding for 2030 were told at the time they would be bidding for a WC spread across at least two countries.   Now the rules have changed (as of course they always do) so it is impossible for anyone to bid against Saudi Arabia / Aramco for 2034.    If anyone in the USA has thought it has been a bit hot on occasion, just wait for eight years’ time.

Oh yes, we also have the news that Fifa has done a deal with DAZN for the Club World Cup, and the Saudi Public Investment is now funding part of DAZN.   The only way we can stop any of this (perhaps on the basis that players benefit from a rest in our summer, or some old-fashioned view like that) is by refusing to participate, or by being critical of things like the World Cup and the Club World Cup.   Still, Chelsea were pleased to get the CWC when it was their turn.  And Infantino has to be given tributes for (according to Trump) “his unwavering commitment to advancing peace and unity throughout the world.”

Indeed, it does seem that the Fifa World Cup is now very closely linked with some of the less desirable attributes of contemporary world affairs.  Which raises the question: if a country’s government doesn’t actually like what Fifa is up to, could it pull out of one or more competitions?

Certainly, now that was such a complete overriding of the power of referees that one might have thought that both individual referees and indeed refereeing associations in countries across the world might have stepped up and said “no” or words to that effect.   But no, they didn’t seem to do anything much.

Which makes me wonder if next season rulings by PGMO men in the League might not be appealed by a quick trip to the Palace to ask King Charles III to override this or that red card.

Incidentally, in this regard, it seems King Charles supports Burnley.   He said that he announced his support for them to help them raise aspirations and improve the self-esteem of the area.  They finished 19th in the League last season, 19 points behind Tottenham Hotspur and 65 points behind Arsenal.   We beat them 2-0 and 1-0 in the games last season.  Sorry about that, Your Majesty.

But I suppose the biggest thing we have learned from this World Cup is that Fifa has given itself the right to change football’s long-established rules as it wishes, as with hydration breaks – during which broadcasters in the USA show advertisements.  This doesn’t happen in the UK because of the rules about how many advertising minutes can be utilised per hour on ITV, and of course the BBC doesn’t show advertisements.  The breaks are actually sponsored in the grounds, as you may have noticed.

Of course I am not there watching the games, but I have told tickets for matches can cost up to £6000 for a match.  I am not sure who in the USA can offer that, but I can’t.  Although, to be fair there are a few £60 tickets available for each game to members of that country’s supporters clubs.   (And all this before we get to dynamic pricing in which ticket prices can change as fewer and fewer become available).   But apparently this is how things work in America, so that’s ok.  It is also legal to resell tickets at above face value, so that’s ok too because Fifa gets 15%, which is again seemingly normal in the USA.

So given all that, and the fact that the USA has refused admission to at least one referee on the grounds that he is a terrorist, I think we have a pretty clear idea of what this World Cup has been and continues to be all about.  (Uefa immediately gave the banned ref control of the Super Cup match between PSG and Aston Villa.)

So I guess we can say it is all moving along swimmingly..