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Ramon Vega exclusive: Champagne goes flat as only one FIFA presidential candidate shows up for debate
Yahoo's Sport Business Correspondent Ramon Vega laments a wasted opportunity as every wannabee drop out of European Parliament debate - except one...
Whoever said that a week is a long time in politics should try exploring the temporal relativity of football politics!
It’s certainly been an interesting few days in the race to become FIFA President.
On Wednesday in Brussels the stage was set at the European parliament for a comprehensive and open debate on the future of the organization featuring the candidates.
It would have been a great opportunity to show that FIFA was turning a corner and welcoming in a new era of transparency and candid dialogue.
However, one by one the candidates dropped out until Jerome Champagne was the sole representative.
There was all sorts of confusion and conjecture flying around as to whether a complaint had been made about potential breaches of the electoral rules.
Unfortunately, there was a lack of clarity from within the FIFA Adhoc Electoral Committee and so a golden chance was missed.
I was there in Brussels as a guest speaker and it was clear that there is a huge pressure on FIFA to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated.
The scrutiny and spotlight is intense and there will be very little margin for error for the next incumbent.
It is clear that huge change is needed on all sorts of levels - not just from an administrative point of view but also on issues such as the protection of young footballers desperate to launch their careers who are left exposed to be exploited by unscrupulous middlemen around the world.
Some people have suggested a total dismantling of FIFA. I believe this would be counter-productive as there are many loyal, hard-working employees operating in highly efficient departments who would be lost to the game.
It is crucial that this expertise is tapped into and harnessed, rather than needlessly discarded, in order to help bring about the next, far brighter chapter in the FIFA story.
Structures are in place, the organization now needs a figurehead worthy of the responsibility.
It is such a privileged position, whoever steps into the fold must be aware of the plethora of possibilities that can be achieved if the power is utilised properly and for the good of the game.
I want to see, and help with wherever possible, the implementation of the changes that can get FIFA back on track and regain the trust of the public around the world.
These next few weeks will be a crucial part of that process.
Ramon Vega is a versatile high-flying executive with a comprehensive track record of driving commercial success in finance, property and football with national, international and World Cup experience as captain of the Swiss National Team in 1994. Proven experience in managing $billion funds in the asset management industry as well as a turnaround specialist who combines financial and business acumen, Ramon has a flair for inspiring others to exceed their own expectations. Follow him on Twitter here @Ramon_Vega71 (http://frompitchtoboardroom.com)
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