THROUGHOUT its 116 years of existence, Fifa has seen the worst and emerged only stronger.
Fifa has survived two world wars, and more recently has weathered internal corruption problems that was regarded as the worst crisis of its history. But the world's governing body of football has never been through anything like the coronavirus pandemic.
While World War 2 saw football tournaments cancelled for years -- with many players actually signing up to fight – Fifa membership at that time was fewer than 50 countries.
In contrast, Fifa’s membership today totals 211 national football associations.
One can only imagine then scale of damage the raging pandemic has caused and would further cause Fifa, its member nations, the players, clubs, fans, stakeholders, and all those who depend on the sport not just for livelihood but for hope and meaning.
With no end to the Covid-19 pandemic in sight, many leagues and tournaments across the continents have been shut.
Closer to home, the new season of the Philippines Football League as well as the ongoing AFC Cup have been postponed indefinitely.
In a conference held yesterday, the Bureau of the Fifa Council chaired by Fifa president Gianni Infantino moved the Copa America and Uefa tournaments to June 11 to July 11 in 2021. The move affected indefinitely the schedule of the new Fifa Club World Cup that was set on the same date.
With no league matches, what happens to the players and their salaries, or the fans and stakeholders who have invested so much into the sport?
On its website, Fifa said it hopes to find solutions for "competitions at all levels considering the needs of all stakeholders while always keeping the health of all participants as a first priority."
“This exceptional situation requires exceptional measures and decisions. This crisis impacts the entire world and that is why solutions need to take into account the interests of all stakeholders around the world," Fifa’s news update quoted Infantino as saying yesterday.
Among the "exceptional measures" the organization is considering is a "potential support fund."
Fifa's working group will assess "the economic impact faced by the various football stakeholders in each continent to analyse if a support fund at global level will be required."
To help fight the pandemic, Fifa will donate $10 million to the World Health Organization Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Fifa said it will work "together with the (WHO) to ensure these funds are used to support the fight against the virus in all regions of the world."
While thanking the confederations presidents for their contributions and pledging to keep in close contact with stakeholders, Infantino made this appeal in the spirit of cooperation: "I count on the support of the whole football community moving forward.”
These are exceptionally trying times indeed, but there's no doubt the beautiful game will emerge stronger -- and even more beautiful -- when the air finally clears.