A Charles Sturt University academic has welcomed the resignation of world football boss Sepp Blatter, saying the organisation he has controlled for so long needs regulations and investigations.
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Blatter is the president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
Associate Professor Peter Simmons, who is an associate head of the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, has conducted FIFA-funded research and has been active in local grade soccer as a player and coach.
“The surprise resignation by Sepp Blatter after 17 years as president of FIFA, while not an admission of guilt, was nevertheless req-uired for true accountability and transparency of the organisation,” Professor Simmons said.
“The damage to FIFA by the sustained perceptions of senior-level corruption has become intolerable to grassroots players and fans alike.
“The alleged corruption that has taken place under his stewardship of the organisation has been on a monumental scale and led to the FBI raids and charges against FIFA officials in the US.
“Mr Blatter has failed to establish processes that at least give people confidence that senior officials take the allegations seriously.
“FIFA needs regulations, investigations and enforcement, not just words and stunts.”
Professor Simmons said it should be remembered that FIFA was a huge organisation, and more powerful than some national governments.
“Like it or not, soccer, as the most played sport world-wide, is a large part of life on Earth,” he said.
“FIFA has great economic power due to the revenue it accrues from a range of competitions and the associated television and other media rights.
“At one level amounts seem preposterous and laughable, but when you hear the exorbitant figures that are bid and paid to secure the World Cup and its related rights, you realise it is no laughing matter.
“We have become accustomed to responsible leaders – such as former NSW Premier Mr Barry O’Farrell – falling on their swords long before Mr Blatter has.”
While charges are yet to be laid against Mr Blatter by any legal authority, Professor Simmons said there was disbelief at the grassroots level that he wasn’t implicated, and a strong belief that he didn’t do enough to stop or minimise the alleged corruption in FIFA.
“In many ways I’m pleased for the more than half a million people who play football in Australia,” Professor Simmons said.
