This time last week the concept of football being an Honest Game was a joke. Seven days later things are changing - could we be at the start of a (long) journey to a return to honesty, integrity and transparency in football? What needs to happen next?
There are 3 signs from the last 7 days that the journey to an Honest Game has begun:
1. Sepp Blatter's resignation
Football's governing body now have the opportunity to choose a leader who represents values that most business' would understand as non negotiable: honesty, integrity, transparency and trust. FIFA's next president will have significant work to do in reforming and repositioning a governing body riddled with allegations of corruption but the work can now start.
2. FC United of Manchester's first home match in their fan owned and paid for ground
At the same time that Blatter was announcing his re election as FIFA president on Friday 29th May over 4,000 passionate football fans were celebrating FC United's first match in their new and permanent home of Broadhurst Park.
This inspiring story of a fan owned football club is a sign that football with honesty and integrity can happen. It is an amazing twist of fate that the crumbling of dishonest leadership at the highest levels of football happened at the same time as the emergence of successful grassroot action proving to everyone that you can create your own football club and run it by the fans and for the fans.
This inspiring story of a fan owned football club is a sign that football with honesty and integrity can happen. It is an amazing twist of fate that the crumbling of dishonest leadership at the highest levels of football happened at the same time as the emergence of successful grassroot action proving to everyone that you can create your own football club and run it by the fans and for the fans.
3. Sponsors speaking out and demanding change
Money is a language that FIFA understand. Sponsors have a unique power in being able to make demands and quite rightly so because as this week has demonstrated aligning your brand with a questionable organisation won't build customer loyalty.
Money is a language that FIFA understand. Sponsors have a unique power in being able to make demands and quite rightly so because as this week has demonstrated aligning your brand with a questionable organisation won't build customer loyalty.
These signs are inspiring but more needs to happen. It is not just sponsors who have influence over FIFA. The media who broadcast the games and the governments that host the events can also play their part in communicating for change and it is vital that the voice of the fans continues to be one that speaks out to demand an honest game.
Honest Game exists to create a voice for people passionate about football being an Honest Game. We bring leaders together to have conversations about what matters and we are committed to creating education and campaigns for honesty in all areas of football
To get involved email info@honestgame.org or follow us on Twitter @honestgameuk
To get involved email info@honestgame.org or follow us on Twitter @honestgameuk
Fiona Pelham
Sustainable Events Ltd
Tel: (44) 7980 651 781
Sustainable Events Ltd
Tel: (44) 7980 651 781