FIFA has appointed Director General of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Francois Carrard, as head of its 11-man Reform Committee.
Dr. Carrard – an internationally renowned Swiss lawyer – has been named the independent chairman of the 2016 Fifa Reform Committeefollowing consultation with the six football confederations, each of which have appointed two representatives to the committee, Fifa announced on Tuesday.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: “We are confident that he can help Fifa to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way.”
Last month, the world football governing body announced an 11-man taskforce to propose changes for the rebuilding process of the embattled organisation in the wake of the worst scandal in its history.
Chairman of Fifa’s Audit and Compliance Committee, Dominico Scala, was earlier contacted to guide Fifa through its governance reform, but opted against taken up the role as campaign groups continued to oppose the federation’s decision to have members of the taskforce nominated by their respective continental confederations instead of appointing people from outside of the organisation.
Dr. Carrard was head of the IOC’s reform team in the wake of the bidding process for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.
He added: “It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body.
“As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society. To that end, I will establish an independent advisory board, made up of representatives from outside football, to support the work of the committee and provide an additional layer of independent expertise.”
President of the Football Association of Congo DR, Omari Selemani, and Vice-President of the Egyptian Football Association, Hany Abo Rida, had earlier been nominated by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) as its representative in the committee- both men a member of the Fifa Executive Committee (ExCo).
Reform plans include term limits for all Executive Committee member as well as president, integrity checks for ExCo members, individual disclosure of compensation and enhanced level of football governance at all strata.
Proposals by the taskforce are expected to be ready for presentation at the next Fifa ExCo meeting, scheduled to be held in Zurich on 24 and 25 September 2015, and thereafter submitted for ratification at the extraordinary Congress slated for 26 February, 2016.
The Reform Taskforce is also expected to include Fifa’s previous reform works since 2011, as well as recent proposals developed by its Audit and Compliance Committee, in their decision making.
Blatter continued: “FIFA’s commercial partners will also play a key role in the reforms, and we will be discussing with them the most productive way to include their views.”
Two representatives to be appointed by Fifa’s commercial partners are also to take part in the rebuilding process.
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