Plans Revealed For Proposed Fifa Reform
FIFA’s new independent governance committee has published a report that contains proposals to improve the organisation, including executive committee members undergoing a fit and proper persons test, and a limit on their terms of office.
President of football’s world governing body, Sepp Blatter, has promised changes after a series of public scandals hit FIFA – leading to widespread criticism.
Professor Mark Pieth, the chairman of the new committee, wrote in the introduction of his report: ‘Sports, like few other activities, are about achieving through merits.’
‘It is fundamental that – in particular, in corruption-prone areas of the world – achievers in sports develop into role models as an alternative to corrupt politicians and businessmen.’
‘For that reason, it is crucial to keep the world of sports and sports officials clean.’
Pieth’s proposals also included changes to the structure of FIFA – introducing independent directors, in line with best practice in major commercial organizations, as well as limiting the time served by individuals on decision-making committees to mirror the International Olympic Committee’s regulations.
Members of the IOC executive committee can only serve for four years, with the IOC president able to serve eight.
As well as needing a world-class compliance programme, Pieth also recommended an overhaul of the code of ethics as well as clarity over the bidding process for major events – one of the areas he highlighted as vulnerable to corruption.
