Honey Thaljieh, FIFA’s communications manager, visited UMass Lowell on Thursday to discuss the future of soccer. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Gerson)
Alexa Hyde
Connector Staff
“For the game. For the world,” is FIFA’s current mission statement, which FIFA communication manager Honey Thaljieh came to discuss at UMass Lowell on Thursday, April 14.
Honey Thaljieh stopped by the University to talk to an Introduction to Politics and Sports class about corruption in soccer, the changing role of gender and inclusivity in FIFA, and how the game’s governing body is changing.
Previously criticized for her defense of FIFA, Thaljieh presented a new stance on the institution, commenting on the lack of gender equality in soccer worldwide, as well as boasting FIFA’s three pillared mission to develop the game, touch the world, and build a better future. Thaljieh presented promotional videos and clips showing soccer in developing nations and of international teams standing against intolerance in their “Say No to Racism” campaign.
“Why this beautiful game is influenced with sexism and racism. Why this beautiful game has a reputation with corruption,” Thaljieh said to start off her presentation of the new FIFA.
The first captain of Palestine’s women’s national team, Thaljieh noted FIFA’s lack of equity towards the women’s game. When asked about the recent lawsuit that five American women’s national team members filed against U.S. Soccer, she said, “I think it is a great initiative… it is important that the players have the courage to do that. They should have done it a long time ago.”
Thaljieh then talked about how, eventually, the individual movements and complaints from women’s programs can create pressure and force changes in soccer federations, confederations, and even FIFA. However, she also quickly remarked that FIFA has already shown support for the women’s game. “We have a lot to do. We have achieved a lot but we still have a lot to do. We are on the right track,” she said about the matter as a whole.
A UMass Lowell student brought up the topic of the World Cup and its bidding process, inquiring how FIFA can justify giving the prestigious sporting event to host countries that seem financially unable to handle it. Thaljieh mentioned that under the new reforms, the bidding process is changing, and remarked that the financial implications fall to the host countries who made a choice to bid, and then hold, the World Cup.
Thaljieh was asked several times throughout the class about the corruptions in FIFA and the scandalous reputation that the institution now holds. Thaljieh turned to the three pillars and sited the new leadership of FIFA as a way for the governing body to overcome the setbacks of the previous administration.
Thaljieh’s presentation, which she will take to a few other universities in the area, is essential for FIFA in this period of turmoil. The institution has lost its authority, and hopes to gain some of it, and respect, back by promoting its new face. Honey Thaljieh, the female Palestinian Christian, working her way up in a man’s world is a great face for the job. While FIFA’s reforms and claims of changes have yet to be seen and criticism of FIFA is still widespread, with help from Thaljieh and other FIFA members, it appears as if FIFA is at least making an effort to change.
