Presidential Campaign 2008

Presidential Campaign 2008-

Can footballers and officials take part?

On 6 October 2004, the FIFA Executive Committee approved a Code of Ethics drawn up by the Committee for Ethics and Fair Play in accordance with Art. 7 of the FIFA, thereby fulfilling an obligation stated in the new FIFA Statutes that took effect on 1 January 2004.

On 15 September 2006, the Executive Committee approved the revision of the Code of Ethics. This revision was prompted by a decision of the FIFA Congress passed in Munich in June 2006, requiring the creation of a new and independent Ethics Committee to constitute FIFA's third judicial body.

Having said this one may wonder what actually the code of Ethics is . Well, the Code of Ethics is the binding document that needs to be followed by any player or official if the club or organization he or she is part of is affiliated to FIFA via the parent organization. In the case of football in Maldives it is Football Association of Maldives.

Once we have understood this one may wonder whether the footballers and the officials who were involved in the DRP Campaign at Alimas Ufaa Carnival whether they had the right to be there or not.

If we look at the Code of Ethics of FIFA , under the Scope and Application, in Article 2 the following is said.

Article 2, Application

Any person who accepts and assumes the function of an official is bound by this Code. Players are subject to the following provisions by virtue of registering with an association, and players’

agents by virtue of acquiring a licence.

The following is also said under the Rules of Conduct, in Article 5 the following is said.

Article 5, Conduct towards government and private organizations

In dealings with government institutions, national and international organisations, associations and groupings, officials shall, in addition to observing the basic rules of art. 3, remain politically neutral, in accordance with the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs, and generally act in a manner compatible with their function and integrity.

The following is also said under the Basic Rules, in Article 3

Article 3 Basic rules

Officials are expected to be aware of the importance of their functionand concomitant obligations and responsibilities. Their conduct shall reflect the fact that they support and further the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs in every way and refrain from anything that could be harmful to these aims and objectives. They shall respect the sanctity of their allegiance to FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs. Officials shall show commitment to an ethical attitude while fulfilling their task. They shall pledge to behave in a dignifi ed manner. They shall behave and act with complete credibility and integrity.

Officials may not abuse their position as part of their function in any way, especially to take advantage of their function for private aims or gains.

So the conclusion that we reach from this is any player or official who is currently affiliated with the national football team cannot make himself available to promoting or pave ways for a private organization to achieve their goals or targets.

So what happened at the DRP campaign night at Alimas Ufaa should not have happened.

The bottom line is are the players and officials aware of the responsibilities that they have to abide under the Code of Ethics of FIFA.?

I guess the answer is no and the newly elected FA Maldives Chairman has got a lot on his hands to sort out.