Is It Time to Consider a Boycott of FIFA and World Cups 2018 and 2022?

FIFA’s latest revelations regarding the bidding processes for the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 have done little to shift the air of corruption that has emanated from the organization for an uncomfortably long stretch. It was a process that was supposed to provide closure, but instead, has merely dirtied the waters further.

Their own sanctioned investigator Michael Garcia did the groundwork to investigate and analyze the allegations that Russia and Qatar bought votes to win the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively. His 400+ page report wasn’t published nor shared with the soccer federations around the world. Instead, FIFA released a 42-page dossier this week that Garcia claims has been whitewashed, with “numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations” in the document. Subsequently, he will appeal against the revised presentation of his findings.

FIFA’s 42-page dossier controversially cleared both Russia—a country that Garcia didn’t investigate first-hand as he unable to attain a visa—and Qatar of any wrongdoing in their bidding processes, while pouring scorn on the efforts of the bids put forward by England and Australia. The United States Soccer Federation’s bid was not looked into by Garcia.

These latest incidents have expedited the opinion of FIFA from quizzical to downright farcical amongst plenty. After all, the world football’s governing body have undermined their own investigator and naturally, questions have been asked about where these perennial rudimentary deficiencies leave all those involved in the sport.

This whole segment has sullied the integrity of the international game and with FIFA seemingly incapable of getting their house in order, it’s exceptionally unlikely that a sense of righteousness will not be instilled from the peak of the soccer pyramid.

Some of the soccer federations are beginning to grow tired of the lack of transparency within FIFA. For example, the KNVB (the Dutch soccer federation) shared their reaction regarding the news, stating “Full transparency is desirable, as is the integrity of the sport in question. Such a discussion of the allocation is in itself a stain on a World Cup where everyone really should eagerly and gladly look forward to.”

So where’s it going to come from? Perhaps it’s time for the governing bodies of various nations to stand up? Is it time for the FA, UEFA and Football Federation of Australia to boycott the World Cups, with the stench of corruption now irrepressibly pungent? It’d be a bold move, and one you suspect would be met with relevant acclaim, but unfortunately, an exceptionally unlikely one.

The financial implications of withdrawing from a major tournament, subsequently missing out on the monetary gains generated from qualifying matches, TV rights and World Cup merchandise, would surely overrule any decision based on moral grounds. It’d mean missing out on money that would be typically be used to pay down the debts owed on stadiums and enhance developments in the game at grass-roots level in those respective nations.

It’s also worth considering that the two aforementioned organizations who were singled out for criticism by German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert would receive little in terms of support from others who were viewed favorably by the report. As such, it’d be a very brave move for whichever nation walked away from the tournament first; if a boycott is going to have a lasting impact, you suspect it’d need to come from more than one party.

So maybe it should come from somewhere else, maybe the supporters? If FIFA are unshakeably unwilling to take the appropriate action against what is the most embarrassingly corrupt awarding of a World Cup ever and the national governing bodies are in a position by which they simply will not boycott the tournament, maybe the supporters could be the last bastion of morality?

At this juncture, it looks to be the only chance to salvage some kind of dignity from this turbulent affair. Of course there are those of a die-hard persuasion, those who will not miss a single game their country plays in any corner of the world. But a boycott of the global competition and global sponsors would hit FIFA were it hurts: their pockets.

If supporters united in earnest and refused to attend FIFA sanctioned matches, you suspect the higher ups would soon pay attention. If supporters pledged not to purchase any of the merchandise for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, you suspect that’d make Sepp Blatter and the rest of his cronies sit up and take note.

It’d be wholly difficult to implement and for many, would mean missing out on a plethora of things that we love about the game. Indulging in the World Cup is one of the most enjoyable occasions on the soccer calendar, so to turn your back on it completely would be in a sense, a betrayal of the traditional values that make the game great.

But these are unique circumstances, and while this is no call to arms to fans from across the globe, there must be plenty who are hugely uncomfortable with the manner in which FIFA have dealt with this entire scandal. There must be plenty who are willing to turn their backs on World Cups that have been sanctioned and regulated amidst murky reasoning.

The fact remains that international soccer is—major tournaments perhaps withstanding—an unloved commodity for your average supporter. Already it’s perceived as unwanted blemish on the domestic calendar and these kinds of occurrences will do little to curry favour. Perhaps it’s time the fans did something, anything, to ensure that message is sent emphatically to FIFA.

What do you think about the latest FIFA findings? Should supporters boycott the 2018 and 2022 World Cup? Would a boycott be unfeasible, or could it be implemented?

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball