By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – FIFA’s interim leadership has called on the organisation’s 209 member nations to approve the recently proposed package of reforms as a result of the corruption crisis “that has shaken global football governance to its core”.
A joint open letter from acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou and acting secretary general Markus Kattner urges associations to vote for “root and branch” change at the February 26 congress, when Sepp Blatter’s successor will be elected, in order to save FIFA’s very future.
The letter follows the latest spate of indictments, arrests and extraditions involving senior officials from across CONCACAF and CONMEBOL and was published right in the middle of ethics hearings into corruption allegations against Blatter and Michel Platini.
Platini’s hearing over the SFr 2 million payment he received from FIFA in 2011 is due to conclude later today but he has boycotted it in protest.
The letter reminds the FIFA membership of exactly which recommendations will be put to congress including a new 36-strong FIFA Council to replace the executive committee, term limits and more stringent integrity checks.
“FIFA has faced unprecedented difficulties this year in a crisis that has shaken global football governance to its core,” the letter states. “We are now moving through a period of necessary change to protect the future of our organisation.
“It has become clear that root-and-branch reform is the only way to deter future wrongdoing and to restore faith in FIFA. For these reasons, this year and the immediate years to come will be among the most important for FIFA since it was founded in 1904.
“A new FIFA president will be elected at the Congress in February, offering the opportunity to start a new chapter. It is vital to recognise that this will be only the beginning. We will need to work hard together over the coming years to win back the trust and respect of fans, players, commercial affiliates and all the many millions of participants who make football the world’s most popular sport.
“We call on all of FIFA’s member associations to fully support, implement and abide by the new reforms.”
“The future of FIFA and the global development of football depend on our full commitment to embracing a change in culture from top to bottom, through the following key reform points:
• A clear separation of powers between the political side of global football and the day-to-day financial and business operations of FIFA, such as organising competitions and football development investments, will help to protect our integrity and avoid conflicts of interest. All financial transactions will be monitored by a fully independent body.
• Member associations must mirror the above structure and comply with principles of good governance, such as establishing independent judicial bodies. They will also be accountable for the conduct of their entire team and any third parties that they work with.
• Strict term limits for senior positions within FIFA of three four-year terms will ensure that no single person can wield too much power or influence.
• An explicit commitment in the FIFA Statutes to develop women’s football and to promote the full participation of women at all levels of football governance, including a minimum of one female representative from each region in the new FIFA Council.
• Central integrity checks by an independent body for all appointments to FIFA bodies and senior management.
• Members of the new FIFA Council must be elected by the member associations from each respective region under new FIFA governance regulations and monitored by the new, independent FIFA Review Committee.
• More independent and properly qualified members of key committees such as finance, development, governanceand compliance to provide a stronger layer of neutrality and scrutiny.
• More involvement from the football community (players, clubs, leagues, member associations, etc.) in decision making.
• A statutory commitment by FIFA to uphold and protect internationally recognised human rights in all its activities.”
FIFA ideally want the reform measures to be implemented globally within two and half years.
“Our aim is to establish a secure, professional and fully accountable sports organisation by the time of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia,” the letter states. “We are confident that this is a realistic target.”
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