Need For Greed

As everybody in RSA knows, the Football World Cup is almost upon us (250 odd days or so I think). Then we will be bombarded with an expected 5-600 000 soccer tourists. That does not bug me, as I am sure whatever thugs the world can produce, we can produce worse....we know we can. It is the one thing we are really good at and our number one spot in the world for crime remains unchallenged. (The criminals must be licking their grubby little lips at the prospect of getting their dirty hands on some foriegner and his currency....and of course his expensive electronic equipment as he stupidly walks around at night.)

But that is not my gripe- my gripe is over FIFA and their restrictions. Any trader or shop may not sell products that compete with FIFA sponsored products in and around certain zones, on major routes to the stadiums, in FIFA approved hotels, fan parks, beaches (can you understand that one?), park and ride facilities, city squares...and that is not all. Their greedy reach further places restrictions on competitive advertising on any building wraps, billboards or wall covering-even if they are outside of the demarkated zones. But wait, that's not all- the Nazi like ideals further impose these restrictions upon public parks, city halls, churches (I know churches always have major advertizing on their walls), heritiage buildings and my favourite, pavements next to ATM machines. Some businesses in the Zones, like China Mall at Ellis Park will be shut down for the duration of the competition. (I am unclear if they would be compensated). Businesses outside this magic zone, will still be restricted from advertizing products that are not part of FIFA's sponsors. Vodacom will have to switch off their Ponte tower advert as well- and that has been there for years. Fans have to dress in blank T shirts etc for fear of being driven out the stadium with a crowd of guards with pitchforks for displaying a forbidden image.

Of Course FIFA do have an explanation for this. The reason they give- 'it is meant to protect the federation's official trademarks and intellectual property rights against ambush marketing'- roughly translated this means they are like a spoilt child that is too greedy to share!!!!

I do understand the need to clamp down on counterfeit goods and illegal items, but do not see the need to get all communist and ban the sales of goods if they are not your sponsors. That is pure opportunist greed and drunk on the power the host country stupidly gives them.

Of course, the host country is like a well trained dog and will pass by-laws (as most of our towns and cities already have) to help assist FIFA in the need for greed. This will allow them to use the SAPS and Metro cops to help hunt for the evil doers who dare contravene these laws.....and luckily in South Africa there are not much bigger fish to fry than that. I mean I would rather see somebody arrested who advertises Pepsi instead of Coke than a mall robber any day. Bad shop owner.

So basically valuable resources will be wasted to enforce these selfish rules set by a multi-million Dollar earning organisation, to make them richer at the expense of the little shop owner and trader. Seems fair.

I think it is nothing short of disgusting and unfair business practice to allow this type of self serving in a seemingly democratic country. FIFA and Sepp Blatter, are on such an ego trip and the host country obviously buys them the ticket and still does tricks to amuse them. It is supposed to be a free country, with free trade. FIFA are more controlling than Mugabe.

I still think the money spent on the stadiums could have been spent on more important things like healthcare, education, poverty relief......we know there are many more causes and I do not see the World Cup benifiting the average man in the street. Granted the travel and hospitality industry are drooling at the prospect, but I do not think the benifts will be spread far enough. .
Furthermore, based on current infrastructure, how will the staduims look in say 5 years from now.....?

In my humble view, FIFA is a self serving organisation who looks after their shareholders and board before the fans or footie. Football (or Soccer) is a universal game, and it seems only because the royalty at FIFA allow it to be. I am sure they will ban kids from playing soccer in the streets as it may steal a fan away from the stadiums, and thus will result in a revenue loss that will cripple them.

It is time to put the game and the people who support it first. Greed should not be a factor. FIFA earn so much money, yet want to strangle the market further when they ride into Dodge City.
The LOC and other's concerned should grow a pair, and negotiate a deal that will allow more people to benifit and not ony those who are on FIFA's 'good list'.