By Andrew Warshaw
August 21 – FIFA’s much-trumpeted reform body headed by former Olympics guru Francois Carrard will meet for the first time on September 2-3, three weeks before it is due to provide an update to the organisation’s top brass over proposals for cleaning up the corruption-tarnished body.
The high-profile Reform Task Force, which comprises representatives of FIFA’s six confederations plus its sponsors, was created by outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the wake of the twin US and Swiss corruption probes and has been charged with presenting a string of reform measures to FIFA’s extraordinary congress in February next year when a successor to Blatter will be elected. First, however, it will report to the executive committee at the end of next month.
Carrard, a 77-year-old Swiss lawyer, previously guided the International Olympic Committee through its own governance reforms in the wake of the Salt Lake City scandal. But apart from giving the date and venue (Bern) of the first Reform Task Force session, FIFA provided no other details.
Interestingly, however, the announcement came within hours of FIFA holding clear-the-air talks with its sponsors who have become increasingly concerned over the damage inflicted on FIFA’s image and reputation.
“FIFA met with its commercial affiliates AB InBev, adidas, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and VISA at the home of FIFA to discuss current matters,” said a statement.
“During the meeting, FIFA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, reform, and collaboration with its valued partners. No further comment will be made on the internal discussions between the parties.”
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said last month that the sponsors had written asking to meet about governance. FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May when US prosecutors indicted 14 officials, including nine high-profile football figures, over a range of alleged offences including money-laundering and racketeering.
Such was the sensitivity of the unprecedented sponsors’ meeting that, according to agency reports, a security guard was placed at the entrance to FIFA’s headquarters. On most days, visitors can walk straight into the state-of-the-art building and up to reception.
FIFA didn’t say who from within its own ranks attended Thursday’s meeting but afterwards, the sponsors said in a joint statement: “FIFA provided the sponsors with updates on several topics. During this meeting, we reiterated our expectations for robust reform, and we will continue to engage with FIFA.”
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