Buckley returns from Angola’s CAF conference empty-handed?

FFA chief Ben Buckley’s blitzkrieg appearance in Angola last week might be seen as a terrific success, given that there were rumours that the FFA would boycott the conference following the revelation that Qatar had secured an exclusive sponsorship agreement with CAF for its 29 January conference. As I wrote at the time, it likely was not the best idea for Australia to criticize African football’s top officials when it needed their four votes to win the World Cup, but it seems that the bid’s leadership lacks common sense sometimes.

Fortunately they came to their senses and attended – now what was the result? The World Game sheds light on that very question today:

The success of Australia's strategy to lure precious World Cup bid votes from Africa remains unknown after Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley returned from a lightning visit to Angola a week ago. Buckley's trip highlighted the often thankless but complex political roadmap Australia has to navigate if its World Cup bid is to be successful later this year…

Russia had perhaps the most high-profile presence of bidders, with a team of advisers headed by former FIFA communications boss Markus Siegler and long-time ex-FIFA executive committee member Viacheslav Koloskov.

Underlining the close-knit network with roles in deciding future World Cup hosts, Siegler had previously worked with Peter Hargitay, who is now advising Australia's bid.

Australia's bid has so far rated well in terms of government and public support and legacy, according to a report by World Football Insider, a website specialising in football industry analysis.

But according to the report, Australia still lacks influence in relations with FIFA.

It’s this last part that gets me. How can the bid “lack influence in relations with FIFA”? Last time I checked, we did not hire Peter Hargitay and other expensive outside consultants because they were upstanding gentlemen – we hired them because of their influence and connections in FIFA. So not only is taxpayer money funding the salary of an alleged cocaine trafficker, but we are funding the salary of someone who doesn’t appear to be helping the bid at all. Ambivalence and a marginal level of influence in FIFA certainly are not worth several million dollars.