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A Pragmatic Proposal for FIFA Reform
Article

A Pragmatic Proposal for FIFA Reform


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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had a tumultuous year in 2015. When indicting FIFA officials, US federal prosecutors revealed charges of wire fraud, racketeering, bribery and money laundering. In his reform proposal, sports economist Stefan Szymanski compellingly argues for separating FIFA and the World Cup and listing “World Cup Inc.” on the stock exchange. getAbstract recommends this report to soccer fans and transparency enthusiasts interested in tactics for fighting corruption in governing organizations.

Summary

Recent decades have brought big changes for soccer and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Under FIFA presidents João Havelange and Sepp Blatter, the sport has developed in Asia, Africa and Central America, elevating the reputations of these regions’ countries in the soccer world and allowing their participation in the World Cup. On the flip side, FIFA officials have been involved in serious corruption.

A practical plan for reform must allow the sport to continue to grow and enable the organization to maximize...

About the Author

Stefan Szymanski is a sports economist and co-director of the Michigan Center for Sport Management. He is the author of several books, among them Soccernomics and Money & Soccer.