Blatter challenger Jerome Champagne and his idea of a new FIFA...

 _Jerome Champagne is one of the front-runners to challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency. In a candid chat over the phone from France, he tells us his idea of a new FIFA._ **Q:** You've indicated that you will pull out of the FIFA presidential race if Mr Blatter decides to run for a fifth term — which he has. What is the thinking behind you pulling out? A: I never said that. When I was asked during the launch of my campaign whether on that day if anyone could beat Mr Blatter and I said no, on that day, no one can beat Mr Blatter. I don't have to deny any report -- because I cannot deny what has not been said. He still did not confirm whether he would stand against Blatter but animatedly said that 'if there is one man to replace Mr Blatter at FIFA, then it is Jerome Champagne'. Q: Do you think football needs a change at the top? A: I think football needs a real debate about it's future. A lot of things have been done correctly in the last 40 years — globalisation has been very beneficial for the sport and to some extent we need to continue all that has been done correctly — in particular developmental programmes and taking football competitions everywhere. However we're facing two different things in the 21st century — the first one a huge growth of inequality in the game (within continents and competitions in the continents) and secondly, the 21st century is requesting a change of style — public opinions all over the world are asking for more transparency, more accountability and even at times more simplicity and more humility and I think FIFA has also to join this effort and that would be a way to restore it's image. Question is not change at the top but to adjust to new realities and the fact that football is becoming more globalised but also more polarised and we need a stronger and more democratic FIFA to correct these trends. \[caption id="attachment\_1539361" align="alignleft" width="380"\]













    

"Football is becoming more globalised but also more polarised and we need a stronger and more democratic FIFA to correct these trends," said Jerome Champagne\[/caption\] Q: Do I sense a little disappointment -- that you're not happy with the way FIFA has been run over the past 10-15 years? A: I cannot say that because as you said 10-15 years, I was there in 11 of those 15 years you mention! But the challenges we're facing -- those elements were not there 10-15 years ago. If you take for example inequalities and continents, there's more money today in American, African and South American football compared to 20 years ago but the gap with Europe has increased. Take European football -- it's now not possible for Dutch, Norwegian or a club from Eastern Europe to compete in the last phases of the champions league like they did 20 years before. We have replaced the political iron curtain in Europe with a financial curtain which means a lot of clubs from a lot of countries have no chance to play with the top clubs. I think this challenge in my view is a central challenge we need to tackle in years to come. Q: Do you think current leadership in FIFA, including Mr Blatter has been good for the game? A: I have no problems with what they did, I think Mr Blatter did a good job at FIFA especially if you compare what it has become since 1998. We had 200 member nations and 100 of them had nothing -- but look at it now in terms of headquarters, technical centres, artificial fields -- the progress has been huge. But there's a new challenge -- and that is why I propose that FIFA should help nations develop their national leagues. You may have equipped nations with headquarters and other infrastructure you have to move to the next step and the next step is helping the clubs to grow their players and make the leagues more competitive. Consider India, Indonesia, China and USA here — they represent 45% of world population and a lot has to be done in these countries still. I think FIFA is still not fully equipped enough to deal with the needs of such country-continents so I propose task-forces which will specifically deal with these countries. So yes, FIFA has done well but we need to do more and also reform FIFA from inside. Here's an example — FIFA has four continents which are underrepresented not only at the World Cup but even in the decision making process. So Europe with 53 associations has eight seats and in the FIFA executive committee and Africa with 54 has four seats and Asia with 44 has four seats! FIFA is no different from a lot of international organisations and we have to adjust to new realities now. Q: What are your views on the quota system Mr Blatter has proposed? A: I agree with the 6+5 quota system. I am personally for freedom of movement inside EU - it's a fantastic effort. But there is a confusion between freedom of movement and freedom of establishment. Take England for example where only 30% of the players in the Premier League are eligible to play for the national team and this is not a phenomena inside just the EU but even elsewhere like in African countries. Football is about the clubs but also about the protection of the national team. But don't get me wrong, this 6+5 is not about xenophobia — football is about balance and if you're a fan of the club then you want to see a mix of local players and foreign talent in your team because these two are necessary — it cannot be as distorted as it is like in the Premier League. Q: Michel Platini said that he's the only man who can challenge Blatter -- if you were to pick one successor to Blatter, who would it be -- apart from you? A: It's not a question I should answer. I think if we want to choose one successor to Mr Blatter, it has to be Jerome Champagne without any doubt!