The Power of World Cup Soccer: Beyond the Pitch
At a local party in 1998, a man was asked an interesting question whether he is the most powerful individual in the world. The strange thing about the question was that it was asked not to a head of a state, neither was the question asked to some Royal Prince. The question was asked to Joao Havelange, President of FIFA – the governing body of football. He humbly replied, “I’ve been to Russia twice, invited by President Yelstin. In Italy, I saw Pope John Paul-2 three times. When I go to Saudi Arabia King Fahd welcomes me in splendid fashion. Do you think a head of state will spare that much time for just anyone? That’s respect. They have got their power and I’ve got mine: the power of football, which is greatest power there is”.
Almost 12 years have passed since the statement and now everyone knows that FIFA has transformed itself into the most powerful force on the planet. It has surpassed the power of governments and multi-national companies and now they all have to queue in front of the federation to sponsor the games. Although FIFA was late to respond to the global transformation in the technology of the mass media but at the moment, the last two decades have helped the game achieve global economic power. The game has become such a massive force that it triggered a cease fire in a brutal civil war in Ivory Coast, caused stock markets of losing nations to tumble and even strangely caused a hike in German birth rate when they hosted the tournament in 2006. It established a sense of nationality among the Germans which even the great leaders find it difficult to arouse in a nation.
This year’s host, South Africa are also expecting the same force and impact on people around the world. The country expects that the sense of nationhood strengthens its people. Furthermore, through television and other related media partners, the world can see the continent transform. At the moment, South Africa has become the centre of the world. The build up to the World Cup in Africa and the preparations have been taken as a matter of pride for the entire nation and with the tournament coming to Africa for the first time. It is stamped that the football is a global game which can exercise its power more than the power of the individual nations and beyond any borders.
The power of game is rising with each passing day with all the big names of corporate economic world affiliating with it in the form of sponsorships and direct investments. Even at one point, FIFA had more participating members than the United Nations or for that matter any other organisation in the world. It was not always the same for this marvellous sport. Things changed when in 1974, then FIFA president John Havelange, brought the private investors in the sponsorship deals. This changed everything and huge money was pumped into football with the Big Guns finding it a highly profitable place to invest their fortunes.
The power of football has now gone to a level which has now involved even the most poorest of nations. The sport is now taken so seriously that almost the whole politics and social phenomenon are disturbed by it. The build up to this year’s Cup witnessed comments and participation from the world leader including President Obama which is an emblem of how important the game has become to everyone around the world. The craziness of fans, the involvement of even the most powerful individuals in the sport, and the direct impact of the game on world economy makes FIFA the most powerful organisation in the world. It would be right to say that if Pele changed the way game is played, it is Havelange who changed how it is paid.
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