Play-the-game-Magazine-2002.qxd 11-06-2003 11:40 Side 1 DGI-byen, Copenhagen November 10th to 14th , 2002 Play the game Who’s got the power? Stories from the 3rd international conference for media professionals in a globalised sports world Aidan White · Alina Bernstein · Anders Levinsen · Anders Bülow · Andrew Jennings · Anita White · Anne-Marie Kappelgaard · Barrie Houlihan · Bente Klarlund Pedersen · Berit Skirstad · Bjarne Ibsen · Bo Berglund · Brian Mikkelsen · Christiane Ayotte · Claus Bøje · Colin Tatz · Craig Reedie · Declan Hill · Dirk Lund Christensen · Emma Stanford · Ezequiel F. Moores · Gary Wicks · Gerd von der Lippe · Gerhard Treutlein · Gertrud Pfister · Giselher Spitzer · Gunilla Lindberg · Gunnar Hermansson · Hans Bonde · Hans B. Skaset · Henning Eichberg · Henrik Larsen · Henrik H. Brandt · Herbert Hartmann · Ivan Waddington · Jean Paul Marthoz · Jens Weinreich · Jens Brinch · Jens Sejer Andersen · Jim Stjerne Hansen · Joe Hena · John Bale · John Hoberman · Jørn Møller · Kari Fasting · Lars Martin Kaupang · Lars Haue-Pedersen · Laura Robinson · Marcia Sage · Max Rasmussen · Michael Friedberg · Michael Nybrandt · Milan Petkovic · Nils Mulvad · Olukayode Thomas · Peter Schjerling · Petter Riiser · Prisca Massao · Rasmus Damsgaard · Richard H. McLaren · Robert Davies · Sandro Donati · Sigmund Loland · Sun Weijia · Søren Schultz Jørgensen · Søren-Mikael Hansen · Torben Ulrich · William Glenwright www.play-the-game.org Play-the-game-Magazine-2002.qxd 11-06-2003 11:40 Side 2 EDITORIAL By Jens Sejer Andersen, Director of Play the game If sport is to be freed from its maladies, the cure is“ at hand. Open and unrestricted dialogue, good and transparent governance and delegation of power ... to all stakeholders who care about human values in sport ” A home for the homeless questions efore the opening of the third internatio- legations of mismanagement against FIFA presi- transparent governance and delegation of power ... nal Play the game conference, we, as or- dent Sepp Blatter. They even reported their own to all stakeholders who care about human values B ganisers, were eagerly awaiting the answ- chairman to the police. in sport. ers to three questions. But when a few weeks later Blatter was re- So let us show our appreciation for the inde- Would the speakers again be sharp, enthusia- elected, an epidemic of silence hit in the soccer pendent minds in the sports world who bravely stic, well prepared and willing to take risks? world. defy threats to their career and reputation when Would the participants again work tirelessly to And it still prevails. launching relevant criticism of the power brokers build new networks and forge new friendships? Of the six speakers who committed themselves in sport. And most importantly: Would the homeless qu- to speak on FIFA-related issues at Play the game, And let us equally pay respect to those accoun- estions of international sport – questions that are four withdrew before or during the conference - table sports leaders - like Sweden's Gunilla Lind- not asked openly, much less answered – still be in this after half a dozen key UEFA and FIFA figures berg and Britain's Craig Reedie, both from the IOC evidence? had earlier declined invitations. - who have the courage to join the debate as it un- As this publication will hopefully show, Play the Football's leaders – those whose prestige and folds at Play the game and elsewhere, although game was able to answer a clear 'yes' on all three power comes from being elected by millions of play- this choice may not improve their standings am- counts. ers - are denying information to their constituencies ong all their fellow sports leaders. Questions of vital importance for all sports lo- on an issue which they themselves raised as sport's A special thank you must go to the Chinese vers - athletes, coaches, administrators, and mem- potentially biggest mismanagement scandal. hosts for the forthcoming 2008 Olympics. They bers of the public - are still not welcome in great Is this a healthy way to practice democracy? displayed forward-looking leadership and profes- parts of the sports society. But the malady of silence is no privilege of soc- sionalism by entering the sensitive debate on sport In spite of internal reforms in the IOC and a cer alone. It has dominated world sport over the and human rights. promising degree of transparency in the World past 30 years. As revenues from TV and sponsors Until the next edition of Play the game, we in- Anti Doping Agency, many powerful sports leaders have abounded, so has the power concentration vite you to join the thousands of journalists, experts are actively seeking to stifle open debate about to- and the lack of openness. and sports lovers that use www.play-the-game.org pics that will define sport's future. Sport has become a perfect breeding ground as meeting place and knowledge bank. The example of soccer is second to none. for political and financial corruption. With your help, we may be able to give more In early 2003, the respective heads of Europ- If sport is to be freed from its maladies, the cure is than a few days' shelter to the homeless questions ean, African and Asian football levelled major al- at hand. Open and unrestricted dialogue, good and in sport. www.play-the-game.org The Play the game 2002 q REPORTERS q PHOTOS Articles can be qouted Play the game 2002 in parts when crediting magazine is an edited, Karen Balling Radmer All photos courtesy of was supported by the author and the extended and translated Kirsten Harkjæ.r Larsen Niels Nyholm (freelance) Play the game conference version of the Danish Jonna Toft unless otherwise credited Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations weekly “Ungdom & Steen Bille The Danish Ministry of Culture For all other kinds of Idræt” no. 34/2002 Marlene Jensen q LAYOYT Danish Center for Culture and Development (DCCD) reproduction written Bente Mikkelsen Maja Bursøe Danida/The Ministry of Foreign Affairs permission must be q Kasper Lindberg Danish Sports Journalists' Association EDITOR -IN -CHIEF requested at [email protected] Jens Sejer Andersen Printed at Scanprint Anti Doping Denmark [email protected] q TRANSLATIONS DK-8260 Viby J Copyright 2003 Marcus Dylan Hoy Denmark Sports Intelligence Unit (freelance) April 2003 International Federation International Sport of Journalists and Culture Association Sports Intelligence Unit Play the game 2002 2 Play-the-game-Magazine-2002.qxd 11-06-2003 11:40 Side 3 FOTO: POLFOTO/PATRICK HERTZOG Dangerous Liaisons Links between top sport and criminality extend across the world. Even football heroes like Pelé cannot shake off allegations of links to corruption By Steen Bille he flow of money in professional Vice President of the Asian Olympic Brazil's links between sport and crimi- Two extensive »Tsport is so widespread that Committee, Gafour Rakhimov of Uzbe- nality are much stronger than this parliamentary misuse of office, corruption and crimi- kistan, a man also known as the 'Tash- particular example might suggest. reports have nality are inevitable by-products – and kent Godfather'. In the year 2000 he was It is scarcely 1½ years since the Brazil- asked for the the players are the losers every time.« refused a visa to attend the Olympic ian Lower House of Congress published indictment of It was with this background that Games in Sydney, due to strong suspi- an 800-page report on football and crime, journalists from four continents provi- cions about his involvement in drug which named 33 football leaders as being Brazilian soc- ded some of Play the game's most dra- running and other criminal activities. involved in criminal activities. The re- cer leaders, but matic presentations, giving the audi- »The Russians are the most powerful port was initially ignored by those con- they uphold ence a vivid insight into a world rarely gangsters in the western world: they gress members with close links to the their internati- referred to by the media. own banks, they have easy access to we- Brazilian Football Confederation. onal positions, One of the most memorable accounts apons, and they are ruthless« says Ger- »A similar Senate report totalling Ezequiel F. was provided by Canadian journalist man journalist Jens Weinreich, who has 1,600 pages asked for the indictment of Moores said Declan Hill, who documented the Rus- charted organised crime's close contacts 17 football leaders, and like in the former sian mafia's iron grip on its countrymen with Olympic sport for many years. »A report, the list was headed by the presi- playing professional ice hockey in the lot of money is tied up with cities' bid- dent of the Brazilian Football Confedera- Canadian NHL. ding processes – in the form of holidays, tion, Ricardo Teixeira,« says Fernandez »Their families in Russia are kidnap- cash and prostitutes for members of the Moores. »The Senate found him guilty of ped and only released when high rans- IOC. At the same time, IOC members forgery, taking out suspect bank loans, oms have been paid,« he says. »They are can use their visits to candidate cities to using his job to further his business inter- beaten up and blackmailed for hundreds forge good business contacts and make ests, and paying out large sums of cash to of thousands of dollars. Other players be- extra profits.« his friends.« Despite these activities come involved in gambling and money Weinreich adds that some five billion FIFA President Sepp Blatter recently ap- laundering – a business worth millions.« Euros is expected to be generated by 2004 pointed Teixeira to FIFA's Executive – the proceeds of four years' marketing Committee and appointed him Vice Pre- Top of the crime league for the summer and winter Olympics. sident of FIFA's Committee for Justice, Behind this organised criminality are a Security.... and Fair Play.