Introduction
The world has undergone various transformations that have made it easier for people from various regions of the world to meet and share many aspects of their cultures. Modernization has forced almost all countries in the world to share common beliefs and practices that identify them as one block.
The use of modern technology in communication and other aspects of human life have made it mandatory for people from different countries to adopt similar practices to enhance their interactions and boost relations among nations of the world. This has led to the formation of international bodies that oversee interactions in various fields are carried out with minimal barriers.
These bodies have been set up to ensure all member countries enjoy same benefits without oppressing others on grounds of their levels of development. One of these organizations is the International Federation of Football Association commonly known as FIFA. This research paper explores the structures, membership, functions and benefits of this association to member countries and individuals.
FIFA is an international association that governs all the sporting activities that involve football and soccer played on the beach by men and women. Many countries in the world are members of this association. It is estimated that two hundred and eight nations are registered members. The headquarters of this association is found in Switzerland and is headed by Sepp Blatter (Elvis 2010) who is considered the president of this association.
This association is responsible for coordinating and organizing various tournaments including the World Cup and continental tournaments which are events known world wide and command majority of the population as fans. It is believed to have begun in the twentieth century when there was great need to have one institution to handle and coordinate football matches that were gaining popularity all over the world.
Therefore, in 1904 this association was formed by four countries including France, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands with its structure run and managed by the FIFA congress which is in charge of forming rules and regulations governing world football and the operations of FIFA. These members have their meetings annually but they may also have some emergency sessions when need arises (Tumlin 2006).
It has a wide international organizational structure that consists of other sections that are supervised by the supreme organ. In addition, FIFA has six components that oversee the progress of football activities in all continents and act as a link between FIFA and other nations of the world.
Therefore, FIFA has a total of three hundred and thirty seven active football teams of which one hundred and twenty nine are women’s teams while two hundred and eight are men’s teams from various regions of the world. FIFA plays a major role in promoting football in all parts of the world through awarding nationals and individuals with various prestigious gifts and recognitions.
Through these awards nationals as well as individuals are motivated to do their best as far as playing football is concerned. It also plays a vital role in ensuring that national teams are managed properly and that governments do not interfere with the running of its grass root organs and also suspends teams in cases where these organizations failed to do their work.
FIFA plays an important role in ensuring that referees, players and coaches exercise the highest levels of discipline. FIFA being a world association means that it requires huge amount of money to run its activities effectively throughout the world.
Therefore, it seeks assistance from multinational companies in order to boost its financial position for effective running of internal and external operations. Many companies have offered to partner with FIFA in the process of providing essential football services to office holders, referees, coaches, players and football fans.
They include; Coca-Cola Company that deals with soft drinks, the Adidas Company that specializes in sports wear, the Emirates Company that deals with air transport, Hyundai-Kia Motors that deals with the manufacture of automobiles, the Sony Company that deals with electronics and the Visa Company that deals with funds transfer services. These companies provide essential services like sponsoring teams to international and local matches, construction of stadiums and sponsoring players to other teams.
FIFA provides its members with immense benefits ranging from the advantages a country gets by being a member of FIFA to individual benefits gained by players. Nations affiliated to FIFA have good football teams since the association oversees their management and running of their programs.
It ensures that national teams are accorded all the necessary material and financial support in order to meet the international standards outlined by FIFA. The existence of stiff penalties to member states that do not follow the stipulated laws acts as guidelines as to how football activities should be conducted.
It also plays an important role of ensuring that all football players get the benefits they are entitled to and at the same time uphold the highest standards of morality (Menary 2007). FIFA plays an important role in ensuring that the standards of football are improved world wide. It is a unique association due to the fact that it operates on the principle of hard work and transparency.
It is an international association that strives to bring equality among states by offering equal opportunities for them to showcase their talents through competitive fixtures. It is a non political association whose main aim is to improve the standards of football in all regions of the world without overemphasizing on profit making.
Even though it offers avenues for countries to compete these competitions are vital in promoting regional and international relations among people from different backgrounds. FIFA contributes immensely to the development of economies in almost all regions of the world. The most common way of promoting economies is through organizing matches where millions of fans pay to watch live matches played in stadiums or through millions of televisions in their homes and movie theatres.
All these fans have to pay for tickets that permit them to enter the stadiums or cinema halls to watch football matches. Hundreds of thousands of people earn their living through direct or indirect contact with football. Football players are among the best paid in the world making football a highly ranked profession. Millions of traders deal with sports items like boots, kits and balls from different manufactures and this helps in reducing the problem of unemployment.
In addition, many countries of the world where major football events are held benefit greatly through construction and renovation of infrastructure to be used when competitions are about to start. South Africa is one of the countries that benefited from the 2010 World Cup competitions that were held in a number of its cities. It is estimated that she got a 30% infrastructure boost from the many stadiums and roads that were constructed and renovated prior to the commencement of the competition.
Therefore, it plays a great role in developing Saudi Arabia due to the possibilities of offering jobs to thousands of people who trade in sports gears. It also promotes cultural exchange between citizens of Saudi Arabia and those from other regions of the world.
This means that there will be open spaces for foreign investors in the near future as there will be high prospects of international tournaments being held there. In addition, Saudi Arabia is developing its road, air and railway transport system that is aimed at providing reliable transport services to its citizens and foreigners.
The main programs offered by FIFA include training current and upcoming players as well as coaches and referees in order to improve football standards in Saudi Arabia. Attraction of World Cup to Saudi Arabia takes two approaches that are necessary in shaping the world’s perception regarding this country.
The first approach is through peace promotion that will aim at portraying citizens as friendly and social to strangers unlike the past that has been tainted with perceptions of war and unending conflicts. The second approach is promoting football popularity through boosting the performance of the national team to be recognized among the best performing teams in the world.
The government should also be encouraged to invest in football in order to boost the morale of football players, coaches and fans. FIFA can play an important role in promoting any upcoming business through advertising it during matches that are aired in millions of televisions world wide. It can also promote a business through advertising it in billboards and posters located in major highways and in stadiums that host major sporting events.
The major strengths that are accredited to FIFA include their ability to influence governments to promote local football teams and this encourages career developments (Mason and Pierre 2005). It controls the running of its affiliated organs and encourages transparency in affairs that involve players, coaches and countries (FIFA 2007). Discipline among football coaches and players have improved due to the presence of stiff penalties for those who break football rules.
However, cases of corruption abound in the management of the association and this discredits its value. In addition, election malpractices have been reported in many instances and this threatens fairness in the running of their programs. The association has failed to control internal wrangles in many of its affiliate associations therefore making football teams from these countries perform below their abilities.
This association has also failed to create a balance between all teams of the world resulting to great rifts between well paying teams and poorly organized teams. Lastly, the association has been linked with application of double standards as far as sanctions and other disciplinary measures are concerned making some members to feel neglected and discriminated against.
Conclusion
FIFA is an association that has brought justice and sanity to football in almost all regions of the world. It enhances interactions among individuals and states that in turn promotes peace in the world. Even though this association is facing challenges that threaten its effectiveness it is still ranked among the best international associations.
References
Elvis, M. (2010). 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Official Book. New York: Carlton Books.
FIFA. (2007). Official Rules of Soccer. New York: Triumph Books.
Mason, T, and Lanfanchi Pierre. (2005). 100 Years of Football: The Fifa Centennial Book. New York: WN Publishers.
Menary, S. (2007). Outcasts: The Lands that FIFA Forgot. Kansas: Pitch Publishing.
Tumlin, R. (2006). FIFA Levies and the Collection of Judgments in Georgia. New York: AuthorHouse.