ABSTRACT
This essay assesses one of the most significant events in the history of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The election for the FIFA Presidency in 1974 at which the Brazilian João Havelange replaced the Englishman, Sir Stanley Rous, as head of the world body was important in three main respects. Firstly, in heralding the emergence of Havelange as FIFA President, it transformed the world body from a Eurocentric, conservative organization into one that pursued a policy direction characterized by a commitment to globalize, democratize and commercialize the game. Secondly, it demonstrated the growing political power of FIFA’s under-developed constituencies and their ability to effect meaningful change in the governance of the game. Finally, and most importantly for the purpose of this essay, it also revealed the significance of South Africa’s status within FIFA in the politics of world football at that time. This study focuses on this latter issue by drawing on primary source material such as personal correspondence, written at the time, between Stanley Rous and members of the South African football authorities and the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), as well as minutes of FIFA and CAF Congress and Executive Committee meetings and those of CAF. In particular, it juxtaposes Rous’s stance over South Africa’s membership of FIFA with that of João Havelange’s and argues that this was one of the most significant factors in determining the outcome of the election. Before turning to this specific issue it is important to provide some context. Thus, the essay begins by assessing the political climate in world football, particularly the relationship between FIFA’s core European constituencies and the world body’s emergent members from Africa, prior to 1974.
