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International Geneva’s continued love affair with FIFA

“The leadership of football does not answer to the court of public opinion; it responds to its own constituency. Its leaders depend for their survival on those whom they ought to reform; power in FIFA is a political cartel."

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Qatar has long targeted International Geneva in efforts to burnish its image

Partnerships with FIFA, one of the world’s most powerful and wealthy sport organizations, may undoubtedly seem alluring; but is it worth the risk of associating with what critics claim is a system riddled with corruption, now also tainted by Qatar’s influence buying?

Fifa's World Cup follies

Fifa's World Cup follies

ian Buruma | FIFA subscribes to the fantasy of a world without politics, where conflict is confined to the playing fields, but the choice to hold this year’s tournament in Qatar, a tiny oil-rich sheikdom with no footballing history, is itself political.

#122, The G|O Briefing, December 15, 2022

Before Brussels, Geneva has long been Qatar’s target in efforts to burnish its reputation | FIFA's World Cup Follies

#116 The G|O Briefing, November 3, 2022

Moving International Geneva to Ukraine | Brazil back on the world stage | UN human rights chief speaks, as does ILO boss | Happy Birthday G|O!

Two firsts in a week

On Wednesday (November 2), the newly-installed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk held his first briefing before the press. And on Monday (October 31), Gilbert Houngbo, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) new boss, gave his first speech to the organization’s governing body, during which Houngbo

#111 THE G|O Briefing, September 29, 2022

WESTERN RELIEF AFTER ITU VOTE | ANXIETY AT CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT |SPEAKING FOR THE UN | AUROCRACIES NEVER COLLAPSE NICELY | FIFA AND WTO! FOUL

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