Gianni Infantino front of his re-election as FIFA President. He had made mistakes, the world football Association, but also advanced, says Sylvia Schenk of Transparency International in the DW-Interview.
This Wednesday, the 69 meeting in Paris. Congress of the world football Association FIFA. The most important item on the agenda of the presidential election, which is, however, decided a long time ago is: Gianni Infantino, without opposing candidates for a further four years for election. The 49-Year-old was elected at the end of February 2016 as the successor of the deposed FIFA chief Joseph Blatter. Infantio is seen by many of the 211 member federations considerably less critical than, for example, in Germany. In Africa, South America and Asia, the Swiss, the increased the world Cup 2026 to 48 teams can rely on great support. In the DW-Interview with Sylvia Schenk of “Transparency International considers” balance of the first three years under Infantino.
DW: Is it in your view a good or a bad sign that there is in the election of the FIFA President, no candidate, incumbent Gianni Infantino?
Sylvia Schenk: This is actually the usual Situation in international and often national sports federations, that there are no counter-candidates. From the point of view of the FIFA members, there seems to be no great occasion to criticism of Infantino. And so no one dares well, stand against him.
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At the time of his first election three years ago Infantino said: “We will restore the Image of FIFA back.” He has managed the from your point of view?
At best in some areas. There are still a lot of unrest. Image restore, it takes very a lot of detailed measures and the corresponding symbols. I am in the human rights Advisory Board of the FIFA. There has been done a lot. This is now recognized even by many non-governmental organizations. In the area of conflicts of interest/transparency of a lot is still missing.
What specifically?
For example, the transparency of decisions and how they are prepared. There was discussion of a 25-billion-Dollar Deal [for the FIFA rights to world Nations League and an expanded club world Cup – Anm. d. Red], where no one knew exactly what was behind it. There has Infantino not look at the cards and trying to enforce it. One sees, however, that in the FIFA Council, in the meantime, other customs prevail. Blatter would not have made it easy for Infantino now. This is a good sign for FIFA, but the lack of transparency was criticized.
There was also discussion of a meeting Infantinos with a Swiss Prosecutor. Here, it lacked also the transparency of what was discussed. It was about the Zuständigket: When it comes to legal questions, should not talk Infantino personally with prosecutors, but his legal Department. These are not examples of the fact that it works with the transparency and the inner guide so, how should the FIFA want.
Gianni Infantino after his election as President of FIFA on 26. February 2016
FIFA makes now the much criticized removal of the concept of corruption from the code of Ethics back. She values this as a good sign?
This is pretty silly. Corruption does not exist in the German criminal justice as a term. The press has jumped on it: “For God’s sake, they emphasize the concept of corruption from the code of Ethics!” The individual events are not deleted but are even been overly tightened by the minimum sentences will be introduced. But it can be also lighter cases. If very high minimum penalties are recognised, I see this as a human rights issue, how this may be dealt with. The deletion of the concept of corruption was Nothing, the re-introduction of a reaction to the criticism of the media. Both has no effect.
How does it look from your point of view with the refurbishment of the FIFA corruption scandals?
What do you think? It will be punished again and again persons, because a lot takes place.
Take, for example, the scandal of the world Cup summer fairytale of 2006.
Since FIFA can do relatively little. We have had the fresh field investigation report by the DFB. The Prosecutor’s office is still there, but from the looks of it, there seems to be no other possibilities, facts and reasons. I don’t see what could make the FIFA there. It’s been ages.
You mentioned the 25 billion Dollar package to a consortium for all the FIFA rights to a world’s Nations League, and a bloated club world Cup. You hold the accusation on Infantino for entitled, that he’s only the commercialisation of football?
With Russia’s President Putin (R) and French head of state Macron (l.)
I don’t find him entitled to. Also in the other sports, heavily to marketing and sponsors shares wrestled to the times, also shares in TV. So there should be, for example, in the Swim commercial competitions. New international leagues should be created, such as in Basketball or Handball. So it is very much in motion, which relates to the financing of the international, partly national Sports. Every sport is fighting for their share of the cake. Of course is required in order for the football. UEFA thinks about the structuring of the Champions League is different. The club Association ECA discussed whether they should request an additional competition. And also, FIFA is turning on this wheel.
It Infantinos is the task, the interests of FIFA in this discussion is to perceive. I would have, as I said, more transparency is desired. In my estimation, but hardly a way to further commercialisation of the past. The question is, where the money is flowing then. FIFA is currently investing, for example, very much in women’s football, which I think is important.
FIFA General Secretary Samoura
One of the first personnel decisions Infantinos was the appointment of a woman to the FIFA General Secretary: Fatma Samoura from Senegal. You have the feeling that FIFA and the world football Infantino is generally become more open for women?
It has been done in the area of a lot, sometimes even before taking office Infantinos. The FIFA says that they want to promote girls and women in active sports, as well as in all levels of Administration and management in football. Also, FIFA women, have taken other positions. Since FIFA is more than the DFB, this must be said honestly.
Keyword DFB. The Association belonged lately to the critics Infantinos. So right Opposition, he doesn’t. Would have to show the DFB from your point of view, a clear edge?
The DFB need to sort yourself and think about how he designed his structure for the future, with which staff he goes in the next few years and the people he sends in the international fora. At the moment he is completely out. Opposition alone makes little sense. The DFB would have to team up with other associations. The most important counter-positions to the FIFA represents, in my view, currently, UEFA, the power to the President Aleksander Ceferin is a good policy. It would be desirable if the DFB is involved there, as soon as it is installed correctly.
Some say, under Infantino it had become at FIFA is even worse than it had been under Joseph Blatter. From your responses I’m hearing is that you would more likely lead to a positive overall balance of the first years Infantino.
FIFA is improving in some areas – such as human rights, in others it is still not sufficient, the keyword is transparency, or dealing with conflicts of interest. Infantino has made mistakes, no question. But with this development with businesses. However, some structures have been changed so that things can’t happen under Blatter. FIFA, as an Institution, has come in any case.
Since 2006, Sylvia Schenk for “Transparency International Germany’s working”. From 2007 to 2010 she was Chairman of the non-governmental organization that has made the battle against corruption on the Flag. Since 2014, the 66-year-old lawyer, heads the “group Sport” in Transparency. In the case of FIFA, it has been sitting for 2017 in the Advisory Committee for human rights. Schenk was formerly a middle distance runner. From 2001 to 2004, she led as President of the Federation of German cyclists (BDR).
The Interview was conducted by Stefan Nestler.