Between Nigeria And FIFA

By Tayo Ogunbiyi

Federation of International Football Associations , FIFA, is the global body that oversees the administration of football all over the world. It is one of the world’s oldest and largest sports body founded on 21 May, 1904. It has since expanded to include 208 member associations. FIFA is run as an autonomous body, independent of any government in the world. It, consequently, expects its affiliate associations to be equally free of all kinds of government interferences in their respective countries. Without doubt, FIFA has grown into a very powerful and respected body in the world. The audacity with which it sanctions countries that run foul of its statues is almost second to none.

Nigeria has had its own fair shares of running battles with FIFA as the world soccer governing body has had to ban and unban Nigeria from participating in football related activities at one time or the other. Presently, FIFA has suspended the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF,  from participating in all FIFA related football events over what it terms “government interference”. This is a fallout of a Nigerian court  decision to sack the NFF board and the federal government’s subsequent appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the country’s football in the country. Some of the immediate implications of the suspension is that, except the court order is lifted and a reversal to status quo is maintained, the country’s participation  at the forthcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada , between August 5 and 24, would be in jeopardy. Equally, Nigeria is in danger of not taking part in the upcoming Under-17 African qualifier in Democratic Republic of Congo, slated for July 20. Nigeria is the current U-17 World champions.

Similarly, if the suspension stays, Nigeria will not be able to defend the African Nations Cup crown it won last year in South Africa. Also, because of the suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any sub-regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches. Additionally, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training until the suspension is lifted.

Analysts have linked the current imbroglio to the upcoming elections into the NFF board. Characteristically, lots of intrigues and scheming take place whenever the NFF election is imminent. This had been the trend since 2002 and many pundits believe that  desperate ploys by various groups scheming to lead the country’s soccer ruling body is partly responsible for the current faceoff with FIFA. Nigeria was threatened with a FIFA ban in 2010 just after the Super Eagles crashed out of the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa. The threat on that occasion was not unconnected with politicking among soccer administrators who were plotting to win election into the NFF board that same year.

Others have, however, linked the current impasse to our usual unconventional style of doing things. Those who hold this view allege that the current problem with FIFA has its root in attempts by government officials to discredit members of the current NFF board in order to thwart their chances of seeking re-election. It is being claimed that similar script played itself out in 2010, after the World Cup in South Africa, when the Sani Lulu-led board was schemed out of office. Indeed, top ranking members of the sacked Lulu board were subsequently arraigned  in court over allegations of financial impropriety . Ironically, the Aminu Maigari board which benefitted from the 2010 crisis is now on the verge of being discarded.

However, some experts in football matters have decried what they regard as FIFA’s double standards in respect of its stance on government inference  in football matters. According to them, it is hypocritical of FIFA to expect that government will not interfere in football issues, especially in Africa and other Third World countries where the large chunk of football funding comes from government. It is, therefore, unrealistic for FIFA to expect a government that provides the funds to sponsor football not to have a say in the way the game is run locally.

In Nigeria, for instance, of all the teams that participate in the Glo Premier League, only two, Nembe City FC and Giwa FC of Jos, that are privately owned. All the others are being run by state governments across the country. Also, all the major stadiums in the country are built and maintained by government while all our national teams, male and female, are fully funded by government. On the two occasions that the country hosted FIFA events, namely the U-20 and U-17 World Cup, the bills were picked by the Federal Government.  When the Super Eagles recently had disagreements with NFF officials at the World Cup in Brazil over money related issues, it was the Federal Government that hurriedly ferried millions of dollars to Brazil to douse the tension. It has equally been revealed that the Federal Government disburses N150 million monthly to the NFF as subvention. In spite of this, the NFF once owed Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, up to seven months salaries.

The argument then is: if the government spends this much on the running of football in the country, will it not amount to double standards to deny same government a say in the way football is run in the country? Is it not generally affirmed that he who pays the piper dictates the tune?  Although it has been argued that since Nigeria willingly opted to be a member of FIFA, it should be ready to adhere strictly to FIFA statues, the current arrangement, nonetheless, raises questions over the sovereignty of the country. If, for instance, members of the NFF board have been found to be involved in activities that sharply contradict the interests of the nation, would  the country have to wait on FIFA before it acts? Should NFF officials be above the laws of the land because of  certain FIFA statues?

As it stands, if FIFA succeeds in blackmailing the country to reverse itself in order for the suspension to be lifted, which one believes might happen because of our emotional attachment to football, the proper thing for government to do is to totally hands off the funding of football. Since the NFF is technically accountable to FIFA, it is only logical that it depends on FIFA and other creative sources for its funding. This is the way it is being done in most great   football nations.  A situation where the country spends so much on football only for its sovereignty to be put at risk, is definitely not in our interest. Therefore, if we cannot call the bluff of FIFA, for populist considerations, the precise thing to do is for the NFF to be ready to take full financial responsibilities of all football connected concerns in the country.

•Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.