Financial Times Editorial Suggests FIFA Should Reform Itself Before Lecturing Brazilians

Protesters who targeted FIFA and the Confederations Cup in Brazil last month "were justifiably incensed by the sight of the organisation raking in huge profits from a tournament that is costing them billions in extravagant stadiums while they struggle to pay for schools or transport," according to an editorial in the FINANCIAL TIMES. FIFA "cares little for the exorbitant cost of stadiums or for what happens to them after its circus has packed up and gone." Its answer is that "no country is obliged to bid for the World Cup in the first place." FIFA, a "wealthy but unaccountable club, has for too long carried on with scant regard for good governance." Its efforts at ethical reform, after years spent ignoring the corrupt behavior of exec members, "are piecemeal and laborious." It is "well behind the times in tackling racism and match-fixing." It was for many years "in denial over the blindingly obvious case for goalline technology" (FT, 7/19).