Despite international arrests and corruption charges that rocked the FIFA world last month, the Women’s World Cup commences this week with much ado. Team USA has its work cut out for it as it faced Australia, the No. 10 ranked team in the world, and later competes against Sweden, ranked No. 5.
You’d think the shadow of corruption following last month’s reports on the arrests in Zurich, Switzerland, would mar such proceedings, but surprisingly, both broadcast and print reports have been keeping news on the actual ball, which is great, actually.
“Shocking” as it was to hear that the upper echelons of football have been dictated and capitalized upon by a vaguely omniscient council of corruption, it’s important to remember what the World Cup should represent: a show of sporting competition and an opportunity for nations around the world to cheer on their favorite athletes.
Millions of dollars may have been funneled into bribes for votes over the years, but the people responsible are getting rounded up, the cup continues unabated, and, frankly, once we actually hit the field, the selection process of the World Cup location probably doesn’t really matter to our athletes.
Big-wig FIFA executives have been acting about as dastardly as we’ve all expected, but Sepp Blatter’s corruption and South African vote bribes aren’t worth our time when warriors like Christie Rampone and Gator alum Abby Wambach have trained and practiced for months to represent the heights of our athletic competition.
We’re not suggesting that corruption in the international ring is anything to sneeze at.
We’re just saying that backroom bribes and suitcases full of money aside, our athletes are on the field and we should give them the attention they deserve.
We should be recognizing the people who actually matter, the women from literally all over the world having put their hearts, bodies and souls into the worldwide arena with a single goal.
Blatter and the others involved in the FIFA corruption charges will get whats coming to them, but for right now, lets keep the focus on the champions representing us on the field.
Let’s keep our eye on the ball.
