February 7 – Swiss law professor and FIFA’s anti-corruption adviser Mark Pieth has warned that UEFA’s position on FIFA’s reform proposals will “basically try to cut half” of the modernising agenda.
He accuses European as blocking the reforms in world football to further their own careers.
He is also critical of the federations that have been “making big noises in the past”, but who are not pressing hard enough for change.
Pieth told the Associated Press he is “disappointed with what UEFA is coming out with, with the help of the British and the Germans. People who have been critical in the past of FIFA are putting their own interests first rather than the interests of the institution.”
Pieth was also critical of UEFA president Michel Platini who he claimed was trying to silence countries with “unanimous declarations” on their behalf. He said he had hoped federations would have shown more independence.
Speaking in advance of a February 26 at FIFA which is an important step along the two-year path of reform that FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been pushing, Pieth implied there was a real danger of the modernisation being derailed.
“This is a pity because we have a remarkable chance at the moment,” he said.
FIFA working group, chaired by German executive committee member Theo Zwanziger, will take feedback from the six continental confederations on the reforms being voted on at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius in May.
A panel of international lawyers and financial advisory experts that was set up to help shape the reform proposals is also meeting in Zurich later this month.
UEFA statement proposes allowing future FIFA presidents 12 years in office, four more than the FIFA proposal, and an unlimited number of four-year mandates for executive committee members. FIFA suggested a 12-year limit.
UEFA also opposed the proposal that candidates for FIFA office should be vetted for integrity by an independent panel within the world governing body’s ethics and compliance committees. Europe suggested that only continental bodies should scrutinize their own people.
“The central organization needs to have a due diligence unit,” Pieth said. An earlier proposal for a separate nominations unit doing background checks was vetoed before by FIFA members, including UEFA president Michel Platini.
Pieth points the finger at UEFA officials who he feels have the wrong motivation. “On the future, there is bickering and many people who have been asking for reform are at the moment thinking of their career,” Pieth said.
“There is a lot of pushing and shoving going on behind the scenes,” Pieth said. “We are in a very strange situation.”
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