This month, hours before Argentina were to meet Belgium in the World Cup finals, a walk around the streets of Brasilia made it possible to view some spectacular anti-corruption graffiti.
The most impressive was not rendered with a spray can, but via custom-made posters.
On the entrance to a tunnel, plastered on to a brick wall, appeared nine A3 sheets of paper, each in the style of Panini’s traditional World Cup stickers.
But these were not predominantly famous players of yesteryear (although some were), these were infamously unpopular football officials accused of money-grabbing and worse.
Brazil is enjoying its moment in the spotlight, but it is vehemently refusing to forget its problems. Here is the alternative Panini album, as photographed on a smartphone.
Joao Havelange
Former Fifa president, honorary president and member of the International Olympic Committee. A report last year by a judge appointed by Fifa to delve into payments made by ISL, a Swiss marketing company, found Havelange to have accepted “not inconsiderable amounts” in exchange for the broadcast rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. The payments took place between 1992 and 2000 and, according to a separate report, resulted in Havelange and his former son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira receiving at least US$22 million (Dh80.8m) between them.
Ricardo Teixeira
Former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and now exiled in Miami. Teixeira was head of CBF when Brazil was awarded the World Cup in 2007 by Fifa, who have since confirmed the Brazilian received millions of dollars in kickbacks. He has been lambasted for approving mega projects and ensuring public money paid for them, and was once quoted as saying: “In 2014, I’ll be able to get away with anything. The most slippery, unthinkable, Machiavellian things – and you know what? Nothing will happen.”
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Jose Maria Marin
President of the CBF. With explicit links to Brazil’s military dictatorship, Marin is accused of being instrumental in the 1975 arrest of Brazilian journalist Vladimir Herzog when he was a congressional representative. While in prison Herzog was later murdered by the regime. Former star Romario and Herzog’s son presented a petition to the CBF last year demanding Marin’s removal. It was signed by 50,000 people.
Marcelo Odebrecht
The chief executive officer of construction company Odebrecht Organisation is one of the biggest contributors to president Dilma Rousseff’s worker’s party and was involved in erecting or expanding a third of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums, using taxpayers’ money. About $675m was provided to Odebrecht by way of subsidised loans from Brazil’s state development bank. The company has also been linked closely with the country’s previous military regime.
Sepp Blatter
Fifa president Blatter has been at the helm of world football’s governing body since 1998. Alarmingly consistent in his ability to put his foot in his mouth, he has been forced to backtrack over statements regarding women’s football, racism, Cristiano Ronaldo, homosexuality and much more. Was cleared of any misconduct in the report that found Havelange and Teixeira guilty of receiving illegal financial payments. Jeered during the Confederations Cup last summer and decided against his traditional address at the opening ceremony last month.
Jerome Valcke
Fifa’s secretary was labelled by Romario, Brazil’s former footballer turned outspoken politician, as “one of the biggest racketeers in world sport” and a “blackmailer”. Valcke is Blatter’s right-hand man and the principal intermediary between the South American country and Fifa. Charged with ensuring the stadiums were ready on time, he faced widespread condemnation after telling Brazilians they needed “a kick up the arse” as preparations lagged. Later apologised.
Pele
The greatest player Brazil – and the world – has ever produced. Pele helped his country win three World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970, scoring 77 goals in 92 appearances in canary yellow. Since retiring, the legendary forward has carved out a lucrative and relentless endorsement career in which he never speaks out of turn about big business. Criticised vehemently last summer for being a government puppet when he told demonstrators to refrain from protesting.
Bebeto
A World Cup winner in 1994, a member of the local organising committee and a state legislator in Rio de Janeiro. One of the tournament’s more prominent ambassadors and a vocal cheerleader for the new Maracana, Bebeto has been accused of burying his head in the sand in terms of the excessive cost of the tournament, much of which has been paid for with public money. Romario, a teammate when Brazil lifted the trophy 20 years ago, criticised Bebeto’s new role.
Ronaldo
A two-time World Cup winner and, before Tuesday, the joint-highest scorer in the tournament’s history. Like Bebeto, Ronaldo is an ambassador for the tournament and has often been labelled a puppet for Fifa. When protests kicked off on Brazil’s streets last year regarding lack of public services, Ronaldo justified the expenditure by saying: “You can’t play the World Cup in a hospital.” Since then, with his reputation taking a beating, he has changed tack. In May, he said he was embarrassed by his country’s much-delayed infrastructural developments, resulting in criticism from Brazil president Rousseff.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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