The world football association Fifa approved a change to its statutes at its congress in Bangkok. One point concerns Switzerland: FIFA’s headquarters have been in Zurich since 1932. With the change in the statutes, FIFA could theoretically move away from Zurich. SRF sports editor Jan Zürcher on the decision – and what consequences it could have for Switzerland.
Will FIFA now move its headquarters from Switzerland?
Jan Zürcher: That is still completely unclear. But it is now theoretically possible and therefore also conceivable. The fact is that FIFA has moved offices abroad in recent years, for example to Paris. The legal department is now also located in Florida. FIFA experts, such as former official Guido Tognoni, said back then that this was a departure from Zurich and Switzerland. FIFA itself argues that it is a global company. Such a departure or fragmentation is actually a given.
How does the Swiss Football Association react?
The Swiss Football Association (SFV) will certainly not like this decision, but it is almost alone. Because 206 of the 211 countries participating in the congress voted in favor. SFV President Dominique Blanc had already told the Keystone-SDA news agency in advance that they maintained a good cooperation with FIFA and therefore wanted the headquarters to remain in Switzerland. Switzerland also benefits from jobs. There is currently no statement from the SFV following this decision.
Legend:
SRF sports editor Jan Zürcher says that FIFA’s departure from Zurich cannot be ruled out.
Reuters/Ruben Speak
What would Switzerland lose if FIFA moved away?
You could say that you would lose a piece of football history. FIFA has had its headquarters in Switzerland for over 90 years. With this change in the statutes, a departure is conceivable. Zurich is no longer mentioned by name as FIFA’s headquarters. The headquarters are currently still in Zurich, but only until the congress has decided where the headquarters of the world association should be in the future. And of course that leaves room for speculation.
At least at the moment, this decision does not mean that FIFA will actually leave Zurich and Switzerland.
Even before the vote, FIFA emphasized that Switzerland was very happy. At least at the moment, this decision does not mean that FIFA will actually leave Zurich and Switzerland.
How historic is the decision to change the statutes?
There has never been such a change in this point in history. It remains to be seen whether it will actually be historic and whether there will be a farewell to Zurich. But this announcement alone triggered a medium-sized earthquake.