Football fans lose confidence in FIFA - new global poll

Majority of fans have lost confidence in footballs’ governing body FIFA, a survey by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International shows. The findings released concurrently with Global Corruption Report ‘Sport’ shows that 69 per cent of the fans distrust footballs’ governing body. Cobus de Swardt, the Managing director of Transparency International expressed dissatisfaction over biased competition and hosting of events driven by corruption. “As fans we have a love affair with football. When our teams win we are ecstatic, when they lose we are devastated. But when results, whether of games, or rights for hosting events, elections among others are driven not by fair competition, but by corruption, we feel betrayed,” said de Swardt. De Swardt called for an end to the latest scandals in sport that expose its vulnerability towards corruption. “Sport should be a force for good in the world but the latest scandals not only in football, but in athletics and tennis, have exposed just how vulnerable it is to corruption. This must stop now,” added de Swardt. Transparency International/Forza Football poll also showed that although most fans have no confidence in FIFA, at least half acknowledge that there is chance to restore the body’s reputation. Gareth Sweeney, the editor of the Global Corruption Report ‘Sport’ observed that public trust could be restored with transparent implementation of large- scale reforms. “Public trust will only be restored in FIFA, the IAAF and the world of sport if large-scale reforms are not only implemented, but are seen to be implemented transparently. We expect real and irreversible change in 2016,” said Sweeney. From, the 25,000 fans who took the poll on the Forza Football app in 28 countries, 69 per cent of fans have no confidence in FIFA, 50 per cent believe FIFA had a chance to restore its reputation, 43 per cent blamed scandals for affecting their enjoyment of football while 60 per cent would not choose any of the current candidates standing in the FIFA presidential election this week Sweeny further pointed out that without immediate actions more fans continue shunning football. “FIFA should take this message to heart. Unless it acts more fans will turn away from football. The trust levels are low but the fans will give FIFA a chance if it acts now,” added Sweeney. Apollinaire Mupiganyi, Transparency International Rwanda, executive director, expressed optimism in the findings but called for more interventions. “Although the extent of such issue might not be so bad in Rwanda, we need to dig deep and find out the cause, and suggest ways to fight it before it is too late. That’s the message we want to put out,” said Mupiganyi. He also called for more research at the national level to estimate the extent of corruption in sports activities. “Apart from having the global corruption report in sport, no research has been carried out on the national level, to estimate the state of sports corruption in the country,” Mupiganyi added. Transparency International calls for recommendations to be applied to all international sports organisations, particularly those facing corruption scandals such as the IAAF in athletics. It will also use them as a checklist for FIFA reform in the first 100 days under its new president to be elected on February 26. The recommendations include, increased independent oversight in international sports governance, stringent and transparent criteria for eligibility, independent verification for all senior decision-making positions, and increased financial transparency in all sports associations, far beyond minimum legal requirements of host countries. Others are citizen engagement in bids for major sporting events and the need for formal safeguards to stop corruption and all human rights, labour, environmental and social sustainability abuses. The watchdog stressed the need for sponsors to promote integrity and hold sports organisations to the same standards that they apply to their supply chain and further exploration of the need for a global anti-corruption sports agency. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Football fans lose confidence in FIFA - new global poll