The material published in the latest Sunday Times expose has sparked renewed calls for Joseph Blatter, FIFA’s 78-year-old President, to stand down. This is not remotely surprising. And, indeed, I concur there are strong arguments for his current term being his last – even though, in the real world, he still looks well-placed to sail triumphantly to a fifth term from 2015.
I also think, though, that the question of Blatter’s personal future tends to distract attention from the more important issue. The nature of his leadership is a symptom not a cause of FIFA’s deficiencies. The Swiss septuagenarian has exploited with great skill a failed governance system. Reforming this system is the key task. Still.