Listen to the article
We close this series in the local football arena on a decidedly optimistic note. Despite the vicissitudes of corruption, embezzlement, sectarian bias and the glaring lack of infrastructure for generations to come, there is still a glimmer of hope for the future of the beautiful game.
Political Remedies
Fortunately, there are still some football-loving players in the political arena who are striving to restore the local sport’s reputation. Throughout our investigation, we highlighted the major issues that corruption engendered within this global sport which, despite its power to dissolve the world’s conflicts into silence, remains plagued by turmoil. Nevertheless, on the political front, solutions have been proposed by MP Waddah Sadek, who fervently fights for the smooth running of the Federation and offers pointers for the advancement of the sport, “The key to these problems lies in investment in these vast stadiums. The chairmen of al-Ansar and al-Nejmeh were both ready to commit. Nabil Bader, president of al-Ansar, was ready to invest in the Beirut Municipal Stadium, while Mazen Zeeny of al-Nejmeh wanted to inject a considerable sum of $3-4 million into the Sports City.”
However, the political opposition within the Football Federation from a powerful political party, which cries out for a blockage to restore balance to the discipline, “We encountered difficulties during the vote on our amendment to article 82, which should have been adopted. MP Ali Hassan Khalil vigorously opposed it at the general assembly. The article was not even discussed. This shows that a single deputy from the ruling class can neutralize the 127 others. This MP has deprived Lebanon and sports fans of respectable stadiums, capable of hosting the biggest local and international competitions, with a capacity of over 55,000 spectators.”
Large-scale infrastructures can enable sport to host large-scale competitions and give a more convincing image of Lebanon, thus attracting sports enthusiasts and tourists to the Land of the Cedars, just like the stadiums built and the facilities developed in the past: “Between 1997 and 2000, three major stadiums were built in Lebanon. These included the municipal stadium in Saida, the Cité sportive Camille Chamoun and the Stade Olympique in Tripoli. These stadiums were built to host the Arab Cup, the Asian Cup in 2000, World Cup qualifiers and, of course, to raise the level of the local league.”
But investment, maintenance and development of infrastructure for young people are not enough. There are political parties in Lebanon today that recruit modern-day heroes to serve their extravagant ideals. According to the MP, a month and a half ago, a group managed to steal cables worth over a million dollars from the Cité sportive. “As this group is part of the ruling class, it is highly likely that this act went unnoticed by the justice and security services.”
And What About the Youth?
It’s undeniable that Lebanon’s youth are also aspiring, sometimes desperately, to make their mark on the local and international scene. What solutions are envisaged to bring about hopeful change for these young soccer enthusiasts? According to MP Waddah Sadek, hope is still possible if proper management is put in place within the governing bodies, “Lebanese soccer has everything it needs to succeed, from the stadiums to the clubs, not forgetting the club presidents, who invest considerable sums of money, and so on. FIFA grants astronomical funding to federations around the world. All that’s missing is good governance of the sport. It’s regrettable that the president of the soccer federation has to necessarily be Shiite and affiliated to the Amal movement. It’s imperative to depoliticize soccer and choose competent leaders who understand the sport.”
Indeed, FIFA funding is being diverted within the federation, in particular by the Amal movement, which enjoys the support of the majority of clubs, players and certain political figures. These investments could give hope to Lebanese youth, offering them the opportunity to express their potential. These investments could be better directed in different contexts, including youth development and long-term work. Hatem Eid, captain of La Sagesse, comments, “If we have a convincing infrastructure and good management of funds, we can follow a cohort of 20 to 30 talented youngsters over a period of 15 to 20 years, taking them through to the under-23 category, creating a promising alchemy and team cohesion. Unfortunately, in Lebanon, everyone is seen as easily replaceable because we’re looking for quick results, which is a shame, because sport takes time and that’s what feeds the desire to progress.”
What to do? The answer is clear. The colossal sums of money mentioned throughout this series confirm that local soccer holds all the cards, but the Federation is corrupt to the core. It is vital to invest in grassroots soccer development programs, providing quality facilities and qualified coaches in clubs and schools. We also need to set up scholarships or financial support programs for talented young players to help them cover the costs associated with playing football. Increasing the visibility of youth competitions and local tournaments through adequate media coverage would enable emerging talent to be spotted and made known. By combining these measures, it will be possible to create a more equitable environment for the development and progression of young soccer talent in Lebanon. There is no shortage of ideas and resources to build a solid structure in the years to come, propelling this nation to new heights on the world football stage.
Clearly, the main obstacle to the development of football in our country now lies in just one thing: political parties. The latter, once again, intertwines politics, sport and gambling, and it seems that the denominational lottery from birth is the only way for aspiring Lebanese footballers to showcase their talent. We also observed the frustration of players within the league, and even of our young people, torn between studies and passion, earning derisory salaries and jeopardizing their health on half-flooded sports complexes. To claim that there is no solution would be to lie to the public and to soccer fans. The solutions are there, but the head of the green snake is still rooted in the foundations of our country. Food for thought.
Read more
