FIFA aim to tackle corruption

A number of radical proposals to fight corruption and conflict of interest concerns in FIFA’s handling of World Cup bids have been announced.

Mark Pieth, who has been appointed to chair FIFA’s independent governance committee, put forward a number of proposals aimed at radically changing the way in which the organisation is run during a press conference in Zurich on Wednesday.

Pieth, a professor in criminal law at the University of Basel, admitted that some of his recommendations are unlikely to be well received.

Indeed, he has announced that the power of FIFA president Sepp Blatter should be limited and advocated the appointment of independent members to the executive committee.

Pieth also stated that strict anti-corruption measures are required regarding officials and the World Cup voting process.

“We are talking about serious stuff here,” he told reports in Zurich. “Not everyone will like this.”

“I’m not too worried about it because to some extent this is a process. We are trying to change something, but of course there’s a bottom line: if we are seriously unhappy I can say, ‘this is it, I’ve had it.'”

Pieth’s appointment came in the wake of widespread concern over the fairness and legitimacy of the voting process which led to Russia and Qatar being awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.