FIFA’s Freedom Farce

Now I’m not one to be negative; the 2010 FIFA World Cup was phenomenal, and South Africa truly made us proud, but I recently heard someone refer to the next hosting nation as “unlucky”, and the more I think about the stress that lead up to the event, the more I realise that we were in a very unsymbiotic relationship.

FIFA created a big show and dance of 'granting' Africa its very first soccer world cup- Africa is then expected to bow down to the great football Gods in astonishment. And from there on it was a chaotic scramble to meet Mr Blatter’s demands. Where did this leave South African media?
Freedom of the press- DENIED
In late 2009, Business Day reported on the increasing tension between journalists and FIFA’s media regulators. The cause for concern? Well it seems FIFA doesn’t deem the journalistic values of truth and honesty as very important; in fact, should you so dare to report negatively (albeit honestly) on the event, any event however remotely linked to it), or the organisation itself, a clause allows FIFA to revoke the accreditation of a reporter and his or her publication without discussion.

In addition to this, media organisations were required to sign up to the media channel of FIFA's website, and this had to be done before the organisation had even seen the terms and conditions or codes of conduct finalised by FIFA.

WAN-IFRA vs. FIFA vs. SANEF= WTF??
Despite an agreement in 2009 (following the threat of legal action from World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)) where FIFA agreed to insert the following clause to the accreditation regulations: “For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in these Accreditation Terms and Conditions is intended to be, or shall be interpreted as restricting or undermining the editorial independence or freedom to report and comment of Accredited Parties.”, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) still found themselves battling against the giants for actual freedom of the press prior to the event this year.

Mail and Guardian's multimedia editor, Lauren Holmes, was one of the many journalists who found themselves being escorted out of a stadium by security. Apparently there was a misunderstanding with photographic and video passes; according to tweets made by Holmes, she had her video camera and accreditation removed by FIFA officials and security, and not in a very polite manner either.Check out the article at bizcommunity.com: http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/147/48954.html, or these tweets for a blow-by-blow account:

Unbelievable. Got kicked out. Some Fifa guy tore my accreditation off my neck and told security to take my camera and take me out of stadiumless than a minute ago via UberTwitterLaurenCliffordHolmes
LaurenCHolmes

Feeling very upset and confused. Seems to be because I'lm shooting video and not stills. But was in same place for all of opening ceremony?less than a minute ago via UberTwitterLaurenCliffordHolmes
LaurenCHolmes

So, story is-no video allowed, TV or otherwise. Somehow this wasn't made clear throughout my application process.less than a minute ago via UberTwitterLaurenCliffordHolmes
LaurenCHolmes

Just resent being manhandled by Fifa media 'police' and treated like a criminal without any proper explanation. Feel pretty abused!less than a minute ago via UberTwitterLaurenCliffordHolmes
LaurenCHolmes

Open journalism for the win
But wait, there’s more. According to the FIFA Stadium Code of Conduct, section 5.6: “Furthermore, unless otherwise authorized by the FIFA World Cup Authorities, Stadium Visitors and Accredited Persons shall not: o) record (except for private purposes), transmit, or in any other manner disseminate over the internet or any other media, including mobile devices, any sound, image, description, or result of any event taking place within the Stadium, in whole or in part, or assist any other person(s) conducting such activities; commercially exploit any photographs or images taken within the Stadium”. Hmmm, I could name but a few hundred of these recordings, sounds, and images that made their way onto some very public places, like, uh, the INTERNET. But of course FIFA is too concerned with ethics-bound, upstanding journalists to worry about the oh so very subservient and obedient public. I mean, who would dare to defy FIFA and record videos on their cell phone?? Definitely not my mom…or the 500 000 other spectators.

PS- If this blog is not updated within the next week, it is safe to assume that I have been arrested by FIFA and Mr Blatter is using the Jabulani ball to practice free kicks aimed at my head.