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Fifa's gleaming edifice in danger of being engulfed by Brazil's tidal protest Fifa's gleaming edifice in danger of being engulfed by Brazil's tidal protest
(3 months later)
Earlier this year, the Fifa general secretary Jérôme Valcke said something that gave a telling insight into the mentality of world football's governing body. "I will say something which is crazy – but less democracy is sometimes better for organising a World Cup," he said.Earlier this year, the Fifa general secretary Jérôme Valcke said something that gave a telling insight into the mentality of world football's governing body. "I will say something which is crazy – but less democracy is sometimes better for organising a World Cup," he said.
In fact, in Fifa's world, it wasn't that crazy. The command and control approach that it likes to take to the staging of its flagship event, and main cash cow, is closer to that of a dictatorship than a messy democracy. One look at Fifa's supposedly democractic Congress, which has always resembled more of a rally for President Blatter than a vigorous debate, will tell you that. And if Valcke, who visibly aged with the challenge of delivering Africa's first World Cup and has enjoyed a fractious relationship with the Brazilian organisers amid troubled preparations for the summer of 2014, felt that way then he is likely to be even less well disposed to democratic principles now.In fact, in Fifa's world, it wasn't that crazy. The command and control approach that it likes to take to the staging of its flagship event, and main cash cow, is closer to that of a dictatorship than a messy democracy. One look at Fifa's supposedly democractic Congress, which has always resembled more of a rally for President Blatter than a vigorous debate, will tell you that. And if Valcke, who visibly aged with the challenge of delivering Africa's first World Cup and has enjoyed a fractious relationship with the Brazilian organisers amid troubled preparations for the summer of 2014, felt that way then he is likely to be even less well disposed to democratic principles now.
The huge protests that have swept Brazil during the Confederations Cup, a dry run for the World Cup 12 months later, are inextricably linked with the World Cup – no matter what Sepp Blatter would like to think. From Rio to São Paulo, from Manaus to Recife and Fortaleza to Salvador, up to two million Brazilians have taken to the streets.The huge protests that have swept Brazil during the Confederations Cup, a dry run for the World Cup 12 months later, are inextricably linked with the World Cup – no matter what Sepp Blatter would like to think. From Rio to São Paulo, from Manaus to Recife and Fortaleza to Salvador, up to two million Brazilians have taken to the streets.
What began as a protest against fare rises on public transport has grown organically into a loosely aligned, nationwide movement calling for social justice, more investment in public services and an end to endemic corruption. The concurrent construction of gleaming new football stadiums up and down the country, in some cases in areas where they risk lying unused afterwards and in others where they risk accelerating a process of gentrification for a sport inextricably linked with Brazil, has provided a focal point and symbol too good for protesters to ignore.What began as a protest against fare rises on public transport has grown organically into a loosely aligned, nationwide movement calling for social justice, more investment in public services and an end to endemic corruption. The concurrent construction of gleaming new football stadiums up and down the country, in some cases in areas where they risk lying unused afterwards and in others where they risk accelerating a process of gentrification for a sport inextricably linked with Brazil, has provided a focal point and symbol too good for protesters to ignore.
Brazil's unprecedented success in winning the right to host a World Cup and an Olympics within two years of one another is no longer a cause for pride and celebration but consternation. The scenes of jubilation on Copacabana when the popular President Lula was part of a delegation that helped secure the Olympics for Rio seem a long time ago. Lula's successor, Dilma Rousseff, faced with growing unrest and slowing economic growth, was booed along with Blatter at the Confederations Cup opening ceremony.Brazil's unprecedented success in winning the right to host a World Cup and an Olympics within two years of one another is no longer a cause for pride and celebration but consternation. The scenes of jubilation on Copacabana when the popular President Lula was part of a delegation that helped secure the Olympics for Rio seem a long time ago. Lula's successor, Dilma Rousseff, faced with growing unrest and slowing economic growth, was booed along with Blatter at the Confederations Cup opening ceremony.
Far from it being a source of pride for Brazilians, many appear annoyed and embarrassed that their country is investing $13.3bn in staging a World Cup ahead of other priorities. "I can understand that people are not happy, but they should not use football to make their demands heard," Blatter said in response.Far from it being a source of pride for Brazilians, many appear annoyed and embarrassed that their country is investing $13.3bn in staging a World Cup ahead of other priorities. "I can understand that people are not happy, but they should not use football to make their demands heard," Blatter said in response.
Even he should be able to see the irony in his argument. Over the past decade the International Olympic Committee and Fifa have presided over ever more lavish beauty parades of nations desperate to showcase their sporting crown jewels.Even he should be able to see the irony in his argument. Over the past decade the International Olympic Committee and Fifa have presided over ever more lavish beauty parades of nations desperate to showcase their sporting crown jewels.
The argument went that hosting an Olympics or a World Cup was the ultimate coming out party to validate any developing nation. If you want to be confirmed as a serious player on the world stage, they cooed, then step right up. Even London's Olympic bid was a variation on the theme, promising to regenerate the East End and rebrand the country in the eyes of the world.The argument went that hosting an Olympics or a World Cup was the ultimate coming out party to validate any developing nation. If you want to be confirmed as a serious player on the world stage, they cooed, then step right up. Even London's Olympic bid was a variation on the theme, promising to regenerate the East End and rebrand the country in the eyes of the world.
Not only that, argued both bidders and benefactors, but it was a means of encouraging and focusing domestic and global investment in infrastructure improvement. Whether building glitzy sporting venues is really the best means to target investment in hotels, roads and airports has too often gone unchallenged. On the flip side, there are examples of cities and countries where the fixed deadlines and global glare of hosting a major event has undoubtedly focused minds and investment.Not only that, argued both bidders and benefactors, but it was a means of encouraging and focusing domestic and global investment in infrastructure improvement. Whether building glitzy sporting venues is really the best means to target investment in hotels, roads and airports has too often gone unchallenged. On the flip side, there are examples of cities and countries where the fixed deadlines and global glare of hosting a major event has undoubtedly focused minds and investment.
It was this argument that was employed when South Africans wondered about the priorities of their government in hosting the World Cup. For the most part, pride in showing off their country to the world and its ability to deliver outweighed concerns over white elephant stadiums and Fifa's onerous demands. Any residual fury tended to be directed at Fifa's heavyhandedness – students wore "Fick Fufa" T-shirts and street sellers protested against new laws exiling them from the approach to stadiums.It was this argument that was employed when South Africans wondered about the priorities of their government in hosting the World Cup. For the most part, pride in showing off their country to the world and its ability to deliver outweighed concerns over white elephant stadiums and Fifa's onerous demands. Any residual fury tended to be directed at Fifa's heavyhandedness – students wore "Fick Fufa" T-shirts and street sellers protested against new laws exiling them from the approach to stadiums.
The scales appear to be tipping the other way in Brazil and the government is as much in the firing line as Fifa. The danger is that a public long inured to corruption and malpractice, not least in the CBF that for years was the domain of the now disgraced and exiled Ricardo Teixeira, is now standing up to it.The scales appear to be tipping the other way in Brazil and the government is as much in the firing line as Fifa. The danger is that a public long inured to corruption and malpractice, not least in the CBF that for years was the domain of the now disgraced and exiled Ricardo Teixeira, is now standing up to it.
None of this has happened in a vacuum and it is not an accident that the Confederations Cup has provided a backdrop and the World Cup a focus. In Rio on Thursday night, protesters ripped down every hoarding advertising the ongoing tournament. Meanwhile, the very global attention that Fifa has so successfully monetised in sponsorship and broadcasting terms is now being used by protesters to make their point.None of this has happened in a vacuum and it is not an accident that the Confederations Cup has provided a backdrop and the World Cup a focus. In Rio on Thursday night, protesters ripped down every hoarding advertising the ongoing tournament. Meanwhile, the very global attention that Fifa has so successfully monetised in sponsorship and broadcasting terms is now being used by protesters to make their point.
Before previous World Cups and Olympics, from Beijing to London, protesters have tended to use them as a canvas to make their points on all manner of subjects before excitement at the event itself has convulsed the nation and swept aside all misgivings. But the forces that the Confederations Cup has unleashed in Brazil feel like a more potent brew.Before previous World Cups and Olympics, from Beijing to London, protesters have tended to use them as a canvas to make their points on all manner of subjects before excitement at the event itself has convulsed the nation and swept aside all misgivings. But the forces that the Confederations Cup has unleashed in Brazil feel like a more potent brew.
Back in Zurich, a Fifa more used to countries fawning and falling over themselves to host the World Cup and gratefully embracing its demands when they do will be more than a little perturbed at what the next year might bring. Valcke, meanwhile, can take heart from the fact the next two World Cups are in Russia and Qatar. Not so much danger of troublesome democratic protest there, at least.Back in Zurich, a Fifa more used to countries fawning and falling over themselves to host the World Cup and gratefully embracing its demands when they do will be more than a little perturbed at what the next year might bring. Valcke, meanwhile, can take heart from the fact the next two World Cups are in Russia and Qatar. Not so much danger of troublesome democratic protest there, at least.
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