By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein says he will launch a 10-year programme of reform and change if he manages to unseat Sepp Blatter in May.
In his first public comments since his initial candidacy statement, the 39-year-old Jordanian, currently attending the Asian Cup in Australia, says FIFA still has plenty to do to regain trust and credibility.
Although under Blatter a significant number of reforms have been put in place, Prince Ali says real transparency is still lacking. For instance, he wants remuneration packages of senior FIFA officials to be released and terms of office to be restricted.
“FIFA as an organisation tends to be a bit secretive,” Prince Ali told reporters. “We should be open and happy and confident to be engaged with everyone. We have to really focus on restoring people’s confidence in the organisation, that will be our number one priority.”
FIFA has been under fire over its handling of Michael Garcia’s investigation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process which led to the American resigning as joint head of FIFA’s ethics committee. Under pressure to release more details, FIFA announced last month it would publish an “appropriate” version of the report but in redacted form.
“I was probably the first to ask for the Garcia report to come out, and I believe that we should be totally transparent in that respect,” said Prince Ali. “I believe in full transparency and have full confidence that nobody should have anything to hide. We owe this to the football community, it’s everyone’s right, from players to fans.
“We have a lot of things that need to be addressed and reform is crucial. I’m looking to make real change that’s why I’m putting my hat in the ring. Change is inevitable, we need to get back to basics.”
“I will look to a 10-year programme for the organisation, where everyone is a part of it and ourselves as the executive committee will implement it. In the coming months, I will be looking to sit down and talk to all our member associations and listen to them.
“I’m not coming in to dictate. I have my ideas and progress I want to implement, but I have to hear back from my colleagues.”
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