FIFA elections are democracy at their finest, or worst, depending on how you look at it.
One federation, one vote. All by secret ballot.
FIFA’s 209 members are scheduled toelect a new president on Feb. 26, but Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, the Bahraini royal, suggested on Tuesday that everyone decide ahead of time on a single candidate to present to theFIFA Congress.
So much for an election.
“If we go to election, there will be losers and maybe sometimes you need to avoid that result,” Skeikh Salman
Sheikh Salman is considered the candidate to beat,having garnered the endorsements of the Asian Football Confederation, which he heads, and the Confederation of African Football. Between the two confederations, they hold 100 votes, seemingly puttingSheikh Salman on the path of the victory.
But all 100 African and Asian members won’t vote for Sheikh Salman. In Africa, Liberia FA chairman Musa Bility said he was in contact with26 African federations chiefs and none was backing Sheikh Salman. Egypt and South Sudan have come out in support of UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino, while Liberia is backing PrinceAli of Jordan.
Much of Europe has come out in support of Infantino. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is a member of FIFA’s executive committee, said last Wednesday theRussian Football Union would support Infantino, but that support was thrown into question on Monday when Russian president Vladimir Putko met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
“The heads of state discussed cooperation on international affairs, on regional issues and discussed the situation unfolding in the Middle East and in the north of Africa,” Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov said.
Tass reported the King of Bahrain backed the 2018 World Cup in Russia and “Russia and Bahrain have pledged tojoin actions in the election of the FIFA president.”
Putin’s interest in FIFA politics is nothing new. He was close to ousted FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who supported Russia inits bid to host the 2018 World Cup and who was backed by Russia in his May election bid despite UEFA’s support for Prince Ali.
It remains to be seen how much support Putin can sway inRussia’s sphere of influence beyond the Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan that already would likely support Sheikh Salman.
Exchanging Gifts: Jeweled sword for Putin, Turkmen pure-breed stallion for Bahrain king — RT (@RT_com) “We have to be realistic,” he said. “We know the chances of eachcandidate. Every day we calculate. I am sure that, of course, it is positive.”
Sheikh Salman said an advance agreement was a “win-win” for everyone.
“Everybody is involvedand everybody has a share of the power and gets involved in the decision-making,” he said. “But everybody has the right to run and go ahead. It is not up to me to decide on that.”
Well,that’s generous of him.
Less than a halfof the FIFA members have expressed their public support, but Sheikh Salman insists he knows who is supporting whom.
Hey, we should have had these guys run for office here in the state caucuses, and in New Hampshire, and let have a real taste of “western democracy,” and have don Putino keep horse outta the picture!
Hey Sheik, don’t be too shocked, but surprise in an election there are/is usually losers!!!