Amid the continuing corruption probe into FIFA and the prolonged crisis over the succession to Sepp Blatter, football’s global ruling body has a new leader.
New FIFA president Gianni Infantino lives a mere six miles away from his predecessor in Switzerland and was an internal candidate having worked for the organization’s UEFA confederation for 16 years, including eight years as general secretary.
However, he has vowed to “restore the respect people have in FIFA” and oversee a new era at the organization dubbed the United Nations of Football.
He will be assisted by FIFA’s approval of “landmark reforms” including the separation of commercial and political decision-making, greater scrutiny of senior officials and commitments to promoting human rights and the role of women in world football.
The new measures also include limits on the terms of office of key FIFA executives and annual disclosure of the compensation of the president, all FIFA council members, and the secretary-general.
They also involve the adoption of statutory principles of good governance for member associations and confederations, including compulsory annual independent audit reports and independent judicial bodies to ensure that there is a separation of powers on all levels of football’s structures.
However, the fact that the reforms were supported by only 179 of the 207 member associations who were present and eligible to vote at the extraordinary congress in Zurich illustrates that world football is not wholly united on how far reforms should go.
Reformers also want to go much further. Here are five suggestions for actions to clean up world football.
1. Move to full democratic elections of the FIFA council
While FIFA’s president is elected by congress, such as the one that has just taken place in Zurich, all other members of the new FIFA council will continue to be appointed by the six confederations. As other commentators have noted, this runs the risk that FIFA reforms may simply decentralise corruption from FIFA to the confederations.
2. Introduce higher quotas for women
FIFA’s reforms include creating greater recognition and promotion of women in world football by requiring a minimum of six of its 37 council members to be female to create a more diverse decision-making environment and culture.
This equates to 16% of the 37 council members and may be seen to be radical given that women are banned from even attending football matches in Iran, one FIFA member nation.
However, FIFA could go much further. The FIFA Women’s Football Symposium, for example, has called for a quota of 20% and a longer term target of 30%.
3. Bring in stricter term limits for FIFA executives
FIFA’s reforms are introducing a maximum terms of 12 years for holders of the positions of FIFA president, council members and members of the audit and compliance committee and the organization’s judicial bodies.
This would prevent tenures as long as that of Blatter, who served for 17 years and would be staying for longer without the FBI investigation. Shorter FIFA terms could prevent power clichés and promote new blood.
4. Use social media to truly engage with its enormous fan base
If football is the world’s favourite spectator sport, why is its organizing body so unpopular? Even allowing for a natural degree of supporter cynicism, could it do more to reach the hearts and minds of the supporters whose devotion effectively funds the game?
FIFA could follow the example of its major clubs who are linking with some of the world’s biggest technology companies to learn how to reach supporters.
Manchester United has a tie-up with Indian “digital transformation partner” HCL Technologies, while Chelsea is working with India’s Wipro to enhance digital fan engagement, Manchester City has a digital partnership with SAP and Real Madrid has one with IBM.
Imagine a FIFA link-up with Apple, Amazon.com or Google. What could silicon valley’s brightest brains teach football’s ruling body?
5. Allow supporter representation on FIFA bodies.
This may seem unthinkable for football’s elite global body. However, opening itself to a degree of involvement by passionate fans could help the sport retain and develop the effective licence to operate granted by regulators, governments and the court of public opinion.
How far do you think FIFA needs to go to clean up its act and rebuild trust? Do let me know your views.
