Lessons To Be Learned From FIFA Failure

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." - Bill Shankly

"But not as important as cricket." - Peter Swabey

Well it had to come. There have been rumours and counter-rumours for a number of years about a 'bung culture' in some international sports organisations, usually heightened in the UK press when the UK does not 'win' a bid for a prestigious international tournament, and now it has been reported that six FIFA officials, including one of their vice-presidents have been arrested and criminal proceedings commenced "against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups".

Last November, FIFA published a summary of its own report into allegations of corruption amongst the nine teams bidding to win the right to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, voting for which took place in 2010. Russia beat off bids from England and Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal to host the 2018 event, and Qatar won the 2022 finals, beating Australia, Japan...