SYDNEY 28-30 May 2008 FIFA's 58th Congress meets under still controversial Sepp Blatter

Some 2500 delegates and media from the 205 member nations of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association descend on Sydney for the 58th FIFA Congress. International football's "parliament" will meet under the still controversial chairmanship of Sepp Blatter, who was elected to a third term as FIFA president in May 2007. Keynote addresses, awards, shows and films occupy much of the proceedings. Any time left for serious discussion is likely to cover an expensive lawsuit and FIFA's reputation, South Africa's preparations for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and a recent rule change that sees Andean nations barred from hosting fixtures for the 2014 World Cup in South America.

Allegations of serious corruption continue to stick to FIFA, and Blatter has been implicated in several. He appears to have quashed a revolt against him, and this re-election was for a third term. His involvement in a sponsorship lawsuit that could cost FIFA US 2 million might not be easy to dismiss. Mastercard took FIFA to court in 2006 for breaching an exclusive renegotiation period to open talks with their great rivals, Visa. FIFA lost the case, though Blatter has appealed. If the ruling stands, the organization stands to lost some US 2 million per month in sponsorship revenue on top of US 5 million legal fees.

South Africa's preparations appear to be on track and should not occupy much meeting time, but the host of the 2014 World Cup, either Colombia or Brazil, might be forced by the Andean nations in South America to take a stand on a recent FIFA decision. It bans international soccer matches played at high altitude, and has particularly upset Bolivia. Two Bolivian politicians held up posters proclaiming that "Football does not discriminate" and declaring that the row was a question of "Attitude not altitude" outside the Zurich conference. They are likely to show up again in Sydney at the head of a bigger protest.

FIFA's executive committee insists it is banning high-altitude internationals out of concern for the health of players and to stop the perceived advantage given to teams accustomed to playing at heights.

Four previous World Cups have been held in South America: Uruguay 1930, Brazil 1950, Chile 1962 and Argentina 1978. Jun/07

RELATED READING;

FIFA
http://www.fifa.com/index.html

Australia soccer united, says Lowy (AAP/Ninemsn 3 Jun 2007)
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=270885

Blatter's dangerous glory rings hollow (Scotsman 3 Jun 2007)
http://sport.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=867792007

Zimbabwe FIFA bombshell (Zimbabwe Standard/AllAfrica 3 Jun 2007)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200706030079.html

Bolivia's Morales protests FIFA ban on Andean peak (Guardian 1 Jun 2007)
http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6677518,00.html