Mel Brennan has experienced football at every level. “I know what the World Cup looks like from the 17th floor of Trump Tower … I know what it looks like from a grass-strewn field in Trinidad where children cannot play because money that was supposed to maintain it went somewhere else entirely,” he shares.
Having served as an executive at Concacaf during the notorious tenures of Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer, Brennan witnessed firsthand the pervasive corruption that plagued the organization. His recent publication,Fixing Football, recounts his experiences during this tumultuous period.
“Football survived Sepp Blatter,” he optimistically asserts in his book. “It survived Jack Warner. It survived Chuck Blazer. And it will survive Gianni Infantino.”
The Guardian engaged Brennan in a discussion about FIFA, Concacaf, and the sport’s future.
Concacaf’s Corruption History
When asked about the surprise of law enforcement raiding a Zurich hotel and Concacaf’s Miami headquarters in 2015, Brennan expressed no shock. He recounts that the FBI had been in intermittent communication with him regarding Concacaf’s issues. “Wait – we’re not quite ready” he recalls, indicating he sensed trouble brewing.
He elaborates on his belief that there would be no accountability for Concacaf leaders, stating, “the institution said this now lets’s really dig in to see if this is true or not and if it is not true why didn’t they tell us the truth?”
Brennan also noted the organization’s lack of sophistication. “Well, yeah, let’s get them in the car and get them off …” he explains, highlighting how leaders like Warner and Blazer were merely opportunists rather than skilled businesspeople.
Enablers of Corruption
Addressing the culture of enabling within Concacaf, Brennan reflects, “In a larger sense, all of us were enablers.” He points out that the media landscape during the period failed to hold the organization accountable, suggesting that many preferred access to stories rather than investigating the truth. “There was not a lot of that in the LA Times or the New York Times,” he says, indicating a broader complicity.
When questioned about the implications of Warner and Blazer’s financial dealings, he emphasizes the resulting loss of opportunities for many aspiring athletes. “The cost was that people didn’t gain access to sporting opportunities,” he states, lamenting that opportunities were squandered due to the leaders’ greed.
Brennan also questioned the role of influential players in Concacaf, such as former US Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who he felt was more of a spectator than an activist, observing the corruption from a distance.
Reflections on Change and the Future
In his book, Brennan recalls a shocking scene at a Concacaf conference where a group of women left a hotel at dawn, which he found alarming. “There were more than 15 and less than 30 [women]. All from the same floor. You feel like you want to call somebody because maybe you are crazy,” he describes, emphasizing the troubling environment.
When asked if FIFA has seen any transformation since his tenure, he mentions that while some reforms were proposed, the core issues remain. “Some cockroaches have scattered and other cockroaches came in but the overall smell remains the same,” he asserts.
Regarding Victor Montagliani’s leadership post-2015, Brennan expresses skepticism. “There was a moment where Concacaf could have gone in a different direction: democratic, transparent, inclusive, diverse,” he says, critiquing the reliance on Montagliani’s non-connection to the previous corrupt leaders rather than actual change.
Concerns Over Partnerships and Opportunities
On the topic of Concacaf’s potential partnerships with nations like Saudi Arabia, Brennan is adamant about the need for ethical considerations. “Any nation state that is murdering journalists has to be marginalized,” he insists, advocating for a thorough examination of human rights before entering into sponsorships.
As North America prepares to host the upcoming World Cup, Brennan sees it as a chance for growth but warns against overlooking marginalized communities. He reflects on the disparities in youth soccer participation, noting, “There is something wrong here and there is an opportunity for us to reshape how this looks.”
- This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
