By Andrew Warshaw
April 27 – The far-reaching reform package which FIFA hopes will regain the trust of fans around the world has formally come into effect – but the soon-to-be-scrapped executive committee remains intact for a few more months.
Delegates from FIFA’s 209 member associations approved the measures in February even though 22 unnamed federations voted against the reforms that involve major governance changes, not least term limits for senior officials, greater transparency and larger women’s representation.
Under the rules, the reforms were to be implemented after 60 days, which officially expired this week.
The new Statutes will see the current Standing Committees cut from 26 to nine and the creation of a stakeholder committee to represent players, clubs and leagues. Central to new-style FIFA is the establishment of a 37-member FIFA Council that will replace the existing executive committee and be subject to independent integrity checks.
Despite the 60-day period having expired, the current executive committee, all of whose members will serve on the new Council, continue to remain in power in all but name – at least in the short term.
The Council is technically due to have its first meeting on May 9 and 10 in Mexico City just before FIFA’s Congress, the first with new president Gianni Infantino in charge, but the deadline for election of members is not until September 30 before a first landmark meeting takes place on October 13 and 14.
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