FIFA set to discuss radical reforms, elections

FIFA set to discuss radical reforms, elections

PanARMENIAN.Net - The ruling executive committee of soccer’s world governing body returned to Zurich on Sunday, July 19, for its first meeting since FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced in June that he would be resigning. The top item on Monday’s agenda is setting a date for the hastily called presidential election, which is expected to fall between December and March, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The committee is also likely to consider several radical reforms, a person with knowledge of Monday’s dealings said, according to the Journal. The group will be presented with proposals to drastically reshape its future, including a reduction in size, more stringent eligibility criteria, and term limits for its top executives and the president.

Since the May disclosure of U.S. and Swiss investigations into what prosecutors allege is massive corruption by FIFA officials and other soccer executives spanning several decades, little has changed in the day-to-day operations at the top.

“To change immediately something, you need a shock,” said one FIFA insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Now some people are shocked. Others are not.”

Monday’s proposals, the person said, would seek to change the way executive committee members are chosen and to shrink their overall number. (The ideal size for the committee, according to a person familiar with the matter, would be 12 people instead of the current 27.) Members would be elected by all 209 members of the FIFA Congress, rather than the confederations, and have to pass independent integrity checks, according to the Journal.

Another major issue is the adoption of term limits—a measure that Blatter railed against as recently as last summer, but said he would be open to in June. The reforms would also include a disclosure of the salaries for FIFA’s executives. Executive committee members are widely believed to earn at least $200,000 per year, but FIFA doesn’t make the figures public.

When Blatter announced his resignation in a June 2 speech, he came out in favor of reform, saying that he was free to make meaningful change now that he no longer had to seek re-election.

He is expected to address the media after Monday’s meeting for the first time since he called for a new election on June 2. His true intention since then has been the subject of much speculation and conflicting reports.

Some people close to him, including the public relations consultant who ran his re-election campaign, insist that Blatter resigned under internal duress and has no intention of stepping down. FIFA, meanwhile, keeps referring back to his June 2 statement saying that he would step aside. Several people within FIFA agree that a run from Blatter at this point would leave the organization in an untenable position. Blatter has refused requests for comment through FIFA.

“If you are 40 years in power,” the FIFA insider said, “you are always going to err on the side of maintaining power.”

Who might replace remains one of the most mysterious questions in soccer. No serious candidate has declared their interest and likely contenders—such as the president of the European soccer confederation, Michel Platini—have stayed quiet.

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