By Damilola Fatunmise
In a groundbreaking virtual seminar presentation to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ado-Ekiti chapter yesterday 9th June, 2021, Adedotun Olusanya Esq, a renowned sports law expert, made a compelling case that only corporate sponsors, Switzerland, and the United States have the power to curb corruption within FIFA under its 2016 Governance Regulations.
Drawing from his extensive research in “Reforming FIFA Inside-Out: Fit-for-Purpose Governance Structure for the Global Soccer Governing Body,” at Boston College Law School in the United States, Olusanya argued that despite FIFA’s attempts at self-regulation, external pressure remains crucial for meaningful reform.
“The doctrine of specificity of sports has gone from being a shield that enhances unaccountability to a weapon that harms future of football development in Africa,” Olusanya stated. “While FIFA’s Governance Regulations introduced some positive changes, they fall short of addressing fundamental issues of transparency and accountability.”
Olusanya pointed to the numerous FIFA bid scandals between 2010 and 2019, including the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively, as evidence of the organization’s deep-rooted governance problems.
“Only by leveraging the influence of major corporate sponsors, the regulatory power of Switzerland where FIFA is based, and the global reach of US anti-corruption laws can we hope to see real change,” he asserted.
SWAN members were particularly impressed by Olusanya’s virtual presentation, noting that it built upon and expanded his earlier work “Beyond Sports Governance: Constructing a Veritable Platform for Transparency and Accountability in FIFA.” Many journalists commented that Olusanya’s research has significantly enhanced their understanding of FIFA’s complex governance structures.
Qozeem Oladapo explained that “Mr. Olusanya has suggested that all FIFA executive committee members should sign an extradition waiver with an approval from the Attorney-General of their nation to prevent the inability of Switzerland to prosecute FIFA executives as was the case in the World Cup bid scandals.” Oladapo, the recently elected SWAN Ekiti Chairman emphased “That is a very practical recommendation for the legal conundrum that made Blatter and Co. unanswerable to anyone. Mr. Olusanya’s insights are invaluable for sports journalists trying to navigate the often opaque world of football governance.”
As FIFA continues to grapple with issues of corruption and mismanagement, Olusanya’s call for increased external oversight is likely to spark further debate among policymakers, football administrators, and fans alike. As to whether FIFA will heed to these calls is a matter of time.