Earlier this year Holland and Belgium have presented their bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Currently there is quite some discussion about this bid both in Belgium as well as in The Netherlands. As part of the bid, FIFA is the granted tax reliefs that are now disputed.

 

While this part of the bid is now at the centre of a public debate, it also includes statements on sustainability; “we want to be the most sustainable FIFA World Cup ever” and “All of our 14 FIFA World Cup stadiums are green and sustainable” Moreover the HollandBelgium Bid supports the education and development of trainers and other key figures within clubs in developing countries. “Up to 2018 or we can train 2018 or 2022 coaches through WorldCoaches” – a clear commitment by the HollandBelgium Bid.

 

Although I appreciate all these sustainability commitments, from a sustainability perspective the bid comes across as a strange beast. On the one hand FIFA apparently is to be seduced by sustainability commitments while on the other hand special tax privileges are demanded by FIFA. Paying a fair amount of tax in the countries in which one operates is a qualifier for any sustainable organisation. The strange paradox of sustainability marketing and tax privileges indicate some kind of sustainability schizophrenia. The FIFA world cup in the low countries would be really great, provided that they are truly sustainable. But they will only be that, if the same tax regime is applied as for any other organisation. Isn’t “fair play” a FIFA mantra?