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Jun 2

FIFA Boot

Should FIFA get the boot?

What a shenanigans?  The umbrella body and authority for World football leaps from one PR crisis to another.  Media investigations suggest there has been something wrong but the ‘powers’ that be require alternative proof.  

This Week Joseph S. Blatter stands unopposed to remain President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) for four more years. We (England) abstain but are in a meagre minority adopting this stance with Scotland our only neighbour apparently in agreement. Wales and Northern Ireland I understand, vote to re-elect him.   The newly posted Vice-President, Jim Boyce, indicates a perceived ‘arrogance’ from the English.  Maybe true – yet the Argentinean representative says he’ll only vote with the English when they hand over ownership of the Falklands Islands.  Are these purely football decisions?  I felt for the three lions heading our World Cup bid: Cameron, Beckham and the now Duke of Cambridge. Removing politics and the PM wouldn’t have made any difference to the outcome.  Members of FIFA promised England votes and broke those promises, including allegedly the Turkish.  Something isn’t right – and now Qatar 2022 is under review.  They clearly spent money, and why not.  I witnessed first-hand at Soccerex.  But were all exchanges of money ethical.  I believe we will find out.  

Mr Blatter has made several high-profile social faux pas. Homophobia, sexism are two inappropriate comments we have witnessed from this leader. Glenn Hoddle’s discriminatory quip is another comparable I can recall.  Blatter was formerly elected president of the World Society of Friends of Suspenders, an organisation which tried to stop women replacing suspender belts with pantyhose. What? In any other walk of life a figurehead would lose their job (as indeed Hoddle did).  Surely any confirmation of financial wrong doing, bribery or corruption that ‘sticks’ will mean the end for this diminutive Swiss.

FIFA is in need of a massive overhaul.  186 votes out of 203 possible going for Mr Blatter smells wrong. The fundamental changes required includes: independent scrutiny, democracy in decisions, open governance, shared power and transparency in finance.  These are the manifesto of the International Partnership for the Reform of FIFA.

May 28

Turkish Fan S'PORT

Gobble gobble

It’s for precise this reason my friends say it’s not ‘Turkey’ its ‘Turkiye’ in their native tongues. But “why Turkey”? Ouch, that question pains me. This because, Steve Bellis (ex-“County” Marketing Manager) utters these same words in a not so professional video that we jointly made for a ‘no-star’ hotel which we managed to save in that Country. We actually received a nomination from the Chartered Institute of Marketing for this venture under the theming of “Marketing on a shoestring”. The video even featured in my English wedding (as opposed to the Turkish one – to the same wife!) courtesy of Martin Bellis (ex-“County” Commercial Department and the original Vernon Bear) who had it broadcast with humorous dubbing to boot. 

The story is well-known about being taken to Turkey by Steve many years ago. Later came my adoption of a Turkish footballer and then marriage to a Turk. I now own a business in that Country advising football clubs such as Galatasaray, Fenerbache and Besiktas. My father in law, Necati, cherishes his visits to Edgeley Park and fondly recalls the warmth of welcome and singing to the Turkish party on their first ever visit. Bilen, my brother-in-law, has caught the bug and shares my infection for “County”. Even when we had Premier League tickets he would turn them down in preference for attending the heady heights of the likes of Spotland etc (away games). Maybe there should be an extended family version of our hymn to “The scarf my brother-in-law wore”? Some might say his ailment is now contagious, it’s certainly incurable, as he’s started a Stockport County-branded blog in Turkey, in Turkish – which can now boast, after a recent airing, ‘as seen on TV’. County fans get everywhere.

May 28

Football Fans S'PORT

Out of pocket

No surprise when latest intelligence suggests that it’s getting more expensive to watch and attend football matches. I read with interest the latest “Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Price Index” which has said that in the last 24 months prices have risen by more than 36 percent.

Just how much appreciation is there ‘club-wide’ on the state of the economy. Football is just one option as people have to make tough decisions on their discretionary, leisure spend – or not spend at all – as belts tighten and families feel the pain in their pockets. Contrary to fans’ wishes, the mortgage, food and fuel might be necessary priorities when selecting where that hard-earned cash goes.

More than one in four fans will cut back on the number of games they go to this season as the UK’s economic slowdown spreads to football. Promotional offers, loyalty schemes, discounts and tiered pricing will be evaluated and implemented for the ‘original’ fans. Yet the ‘prawn sandwich brigade’ may buck the trend and prop up other revenue streams.

QPR has put up prices by 40 percent next season as they return to the top flight of English football. Manchester United’s top price season ticket has hit £950 for just 19 games and fans must pay extra for domestic cup and European competitions. Surely, there’s potential, especially lower down the leagues, for an innovative approach to ticket pricing and other match day purchasing? I’m available if anyone wants to talk.

FC United continues with its “name your price” strategy on season tickets: radical but with some success.

May 26

Football Fans
1 Comment

In the 83rd minute…….

Stockport County FC is an English football club based in Cheshire.  The Club was formed in 1883.  So where am I going with this?

There’s more than an occassional reference to Turkey in my blogging, though don’t think for one minute that this is divorced in anyway from a connection with football. Well there’s another story.

What are the first images that are conjured up by a reference to ‘communal fan celebrations’ on a matchday. The ‘poznan’ now symbolises Manchester City after mimicking the trade mark of some Poles. Bouncing ‘boing boing baggies’ watching West Bromwich Albion. Derby County doing the ‘conga’ when 4-0 down at Cardiff City. These are just a few. Why not post your own comment about those that come to mind?

One of the clubs that I’m helping is FC United. They promote a 90:90 protocol. That is 90% of the supporters, sing for 90% of the match.

Trabazonspor (ex-club of striker, Kevin Campbell) in Turkey, celebrates every match on 61 minutes. There is a frenzy, irrespective of the scoreline where the fans just go mad in a tribal fashion. Something to behold – flares, chanting, streamers, animation, movement, nobody stands still etc etc. The 61 in this case relates to that region’s allocated code number. I just wonder if an English club might adopt this stance, not as a regional denomination but say a commemoration to the birth of the club that its supporters follow. Maybe “County” would dance to the 83rd minute in testimony to the history of this famous club (and perhaps a recognition as it tries to return to the Football League). I’ll leave you to ponder on this with a video clip of Trabazon’s fans in………….guess which minute!

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