Mel Brennan possesses a unique perspective on global football, having witnessed it from various vantage points. “I know what the World Cup looks like from the 17th floor of Trump Tower … I know what it looks like from a grass-strewn field in Trinidad where children cannot play because money that was supposed to maintain it went somewhere else entirely,” he shares.
During his tenure as an executive at Concacaf, Brennan observed the rampant corruption under Jack Warner and the late Chuck Blazer, both of whom had significant influence over the organization from Trump Tower. He also acted as a confidential informant for journalists and law enforcement investigating the widespread corruption that plagued Concacaf for years. His recently published book,Fixing Football, details his experiences.
In the book, he expresses a hopeful outlook by stating, “Football survived Sepp Blatter,” The Guardian conducted an interview with Brennan to discuss his insights on FIFA, Concacaf, and the future of the sport.
Concacaf’s Corruption and Accountability
When asked about the 2015 law enforcement raids on a Zurich hotel and Concacaf’s Miami headquarters, Brennan responded with a sense of foresight. “It survived Jack Warner. It survived Chuck Blazer. And it will survive Gianni Infantino.” he explains.
Brennan elaborates on why he believed there would be no accountability for Concacaf leaders.
“Wait – we’re not quite ready”
Turning to the scandals of 2015, Brennan stated, “the institution said this now lets’s really dig in to see if this is true or not and if it is not true why didn’t they tell us the truth?” He pointed out the lack of sophistication and the opportunistic nature of the leaders at Concacaf, which contributed to the ease with which their mistakes were exposed to law enforcement.
Enablers and the Media’s Role
Discussing the dynamics within Concacaf, Brennan acknowledged the role of enablers.
“Well, yeah, let’s get them in the car and get them off …”
He emphasized that the media landscape also bore some responsibility, highlighting how journalists often opted for access over thorough investigative reporting.
He pointed out that the corruption came at a cost.
“The cost was that people didn’t gain access to sporting opportunities they were entitled to. The football bubble and the rise in the dollars available for them should have created access.”
Brennan lamented that many opportunities were lost due to the actions of Warner and Blazer, who prioritized their own gain over the development of the sport.
When reflecting on the involvement of major soccer nations like the US, Canada, and Mexico during these events, he mentioned, “People like [former US Soccer president] Sunil Gulati were fully present when I was there. Admiring this economic engine that Chuck and Jack had built from a distance rather than deploying the power of US Soccer to shine a light on this stuff and make a difference.”
Concacaf’s Future and Global Partnerships
Brennan recounted a striking incident from a Concacaf conference in Miami, revealing, “There were more than 15 and less than 30 [women]. All from the same floor. And you see how they are dressed and you see the time and see what is going on. You feel like you want to call somebody because maybe you are crazy.” He observed that others at the event seemed to dismiss the situation and instead focused on getting the women out of the hotel.
Considering changes at FIFA since his time, he mentioned, “Transparency International laid out a framework that would have made things less opaque at FIFA. FIFA could have meetings of the FIFA Council that are broadcast live and minutes that are in real time.” He expressed skepticism about whether real change had occurred, noting that while some corrupt figures had left, others had taken their place.
Regarding Concacaf’s leadership under Victor Montagliani, Brennan stated, “Victor Montagliani had an opportunity to demonstrate he was the right person to lead.” He believed that Concacaf had a chance to transform into a more democratic and transparent organization but ultimately failed to capitalize on that moment.
Brennan also addressed the controversial topic of potential sponsorship deals with Saudi Arabia, stating, “Any nation-state that is murdering journalists has to be marginalized. I would not want to see Concacaf engaging with Saudi Arabia without some sort of weight to the decision-making process of sponsorships and partnerships that included human rights records and human rights abuses.” He emphasized that human rights considerations should be integral to any partnership discussions.
World Cup Opportunities
As the US, Canada, and Mexico prepare to host the World Cup, Brennan sees it as a significant opportunity but raises concerns about who might be left behind. He reflected on the disparities in youth soccer participation in his community, noting, “In my local town in Maryland, all [organized] youth soccer is white kids. But a 10-minute walk from my house a park is reserved by Latino communities but these two communities don’t meet.” He called for a reassessment of how opportunities in the sport are distributed.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
