Having worked at 10 FIFA men’s World Cups, Walter Sieber knows a tournament general co-ordinator has done a good job if they go unnoticed.
The general co-ordinator is essentially the CEO of a tournament venue, tasked with ensuring that things go like clockwork on and off the field.
No easy task.
“You are responsible for minute by minute what happens on matchday,” Sieber explained. “The teams have to be aware of it … You deal with VIPs, which are about 2,000 people. You have about 4,000 security in the stadium and about two billion spectators (watching) he final.
“Yeah, it’s quite a job.”
In 1998 in France, the Swiss-born Canadian was in charge of the Stade de France in suburban Paris where host France faced Brazil in the championship game.
Sieber, now 84, recalls going into the two dressing rooms 90 minutes before kickoff to review the team sheets. He found a problem in Brazil’s.
“I had a quick look to make sure they had filled it out correctly,” he recalled. “And I saw that Ronaldo was marked as absent.”
It was later revealed that the star striker has been taken to hospital after suffering an apparent seizure while taking a nap in the hotel room he was sharing with teammate Roberto Carlos the day of the final.
“So I said to the coach (Mario Zagallo) and the administrator ‘Listen, if you leave it like that, and if ever he comes back from the hospital in time and if ever you would like him to play (in the final), he cannot play because he has to be (listed as) a substitute. Otherwise he cannot play.'”
Brazil submitted a revised team sheet list, including Ronaldo.
When Sieber then went to the French dressing room, he updated their coach “to be fair.”
“Ronaldo is a substitute for the time being,” he advised. “But never forget, if ever he comes back and the coach wants him to play — and the doctors give the green light — he will be able to play up to the minute before the game starts. And that is what happened.”
It took several team sheets, but Ronaldo started the game. The 21-year-old star had an off night as Brazil was beaten 3-0.
More than a quarter-century later, Sieber remembers it all too well.
“This is a moment where you are on your own,” he said. “And you have to decide and say what is just. Should you just let them go and leave the name where it is — and he’ll never be able to play if he comes? Or should you tell them here what you can do or should do eventually?
“And these are moments where no one is around you and you have to deal with that situation.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
