Don't Book Your Flights to Qatar Just Yet

Benji Newman

In 1919, one of the most heinous crimes in United States’ history occurred: the Chicago White Sox were paid to throw the World Series.  The Black Sox Scandal shook the nation when it was revealed that Jewish mobster Arnold Rothstein fixed the World Series in order for the Cincinnati Reds to win.  On paper, this crime is not that terrible.  No one died, and no money was taken out of the pockets of innocent people.  (Of course, a lot of gamblers lost money, but really how innocent were they?)  So why was the crime so terrible? Because those players tarnished the sacred name of America’s most popular sport.  People could not fathom such corruption in their beloved game, which represented so much more than just entertainment.  There is a morality to sports, which fans like to believe is unbreakable.  Whether it’s the unwritten code of on- and off-field behavior or the impartiality of the officiating to maintain “fairness,” sports are supposed to be free of corruption.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, more commonly known as FIFA, evidently did not get the memo.  For the uninitiated into world soccer politics, the organization is known for its blatant disregard of ethics and common practice of bribery.  Scandals constantly plague the Zurich-based governing body, and there seems to be no end in sight. 

However, something extraordinary happened Wednesday morning.  Top FIFA officials were arrested by the Swiss authorities and are being extradited to the United States for crimes being levied against them by the Department of Justice.  After a long investigation by the FBI, 14 people are being indicted on charges of corruption related to the bidding process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar, respectively, as well as marketing and broadcast deals.  There has been a cloud of unease around these two World Cups due to a variety of reasons, from the human rights records of both nations to rumors of bribery being involved.  These arrests seem to confirm the suspicions of many that the process was not above board.  

The impact of these allegations could be felt immediately.  On Friday, the election for the FIFA president is being held, and this could affect Sepp Blatter’s campaign for his fifth term.  While it is almost a certainty he will be re-elected, these arrests could cause voters to support Prince Ali bin al-Hussein who is backed by both the English Football Association, which oversees the Barclays Premier League — the biggest league in the world — and the U.S. Federation.  He has also received the backing of Michel Platini, the head of European soccer and a candidate for the presidency as well until last week. 

It is not clear what will happen should Prince Ali win, although his platform is one of reform.  While he will most likely not take away the World Cup in Russia in 2018, there is hope that he will reverse the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  He was at the head of the charge of people asking for the internal investigation into the bidding of the 2022 World Cup to be released.

For those who fell in love with the tournament this past summer and think that the U.S. team may have a legitimate shot in seven years, continue cautiously in your planning for a trip to either of the next two World Cups.  With huge cash reserves and sponsors putting pressure on FIFA, there is a chance that one, if not both, of these tournaments will change locations (rumors suggest that the United States will be the new home of the 2022 World Cup) should a regime change occur.  While there is a lot of speculation going around right now, Friday’s result will bring about some answers and, more likely than not, many more questions.

Born and raised in the melting pot that is New York City, Benji Newman has always enjoyed being immersed in different cultures. He has studied, worked, and traveled all over Europe and hopes to visit South America in the near future. Graduating from the University of Michigan this spring, he will continue his studies in the fall by attending a Master's of International Economics and Affairs program.

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