business Law
Assume that FIFA wanted to increase compliance with its regulations and pursue investigations where players insult each other under FIFA Disciplinary Code Article 54. How would you advise FIFA to accomplish this?
In article 54, FIFA asserts that anyone who insults someone in any way, especially by using offensive gestures or language, will be sanctioned with a match suspension. If the perpetrator is a player, he will be suspended from at least two matches; if he is an official, he will be suspended from at least four matches (FIFA, 2011).
FIFA needs to present additional modification on the article in order to ensure that subjects comply fully with the implication of the article. The case of Zidane head-butting Materazzi is an adequate evidence to show that there is a need for modification in the regulations. There was a two-day delay in commencing the judgments showing that the rules were not satisfactory in meeting the situation. The decision about giving a Golden Ball Award is also immature since the organization gave it to one of perpetrator. I advice FIFA to take appropriate measurements that would see the regulations complying with any situation like that which occurred in 2006 world cup.
FIFA should increase the pace at which the regulation takes effect on the subject since there are many programs taking place after any match. The perpetrator could be a subject to the awards by the FIFA leading to the need to determine whether they suit the award. It is always the rule by FIFA that a player should receive an award with regard to the provision of the regulations. This does not allow any individual subject to such perpetration to receive a recognizable award by the FIFA. This was the case with Zidane and Materrazi, who received the Global Ball Award because of the delayed regulation. After the FIFA had made a final judgment, the president realized that Zidane did not suit the award because of his involvement as a perpetrator, which was against the article. This shows the failure of the supposed influential organization since the president had to hint about taking the Golden Ball award from Zidane. Returning the Golden Award could make the operation of the organization to appear unofficial. Increasing the pace of making the final judgment could have removed any suspicion of giving the award to a perpetrator. The FIFA should assign a committee that ensures disciplinary proceedings start immediately after a match.
The disciplinary committee should also guarantee that they inspect any case resulting from a match. They should not consider the actions but also the verbal exchange that could have led to the actions. The referee made an inappropriate choice by showing a red card only to Zidanne while leaving his accomplice. It is evident in the scene that Zidanne initially involved himself in verbal exchange with Materazzi an aspect that the referee could have used in making the choice about the red card. Materazzi also agreed later that he had responded to provocation by Zidanne (Metro, 2006). The provocation by Materazzi was the ultimate trigger for head butting by Zidanne. I feel that the referee should not have given the red card to Zidanne only, since the situation affected the subject’s team while leaving Materazzi’s team with an added advantage. The referees should go deep into any verbal exchange by the players before making a choice. This will ensure that the referees make an appropriate choice without disadvantaging one team.
References
FIFA, (2011). FIFA Disciplinary Code. Retrieved from: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/50/02/75/discoinhalte.pdf
Metro, (2006). Materazzi Wins Libel Case Over Zidane Headbutt. Retrieved from: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/136796-materazzi-wins-libel-case-over-zidane- headbutt
FIFA, (2006). Revision of Article 55. Retrieved from: http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/socialresponsibility/news/newsid=103566/index.html
