FIFA urges backing for reform agenda

FIFA’s Executive Committee has unanimously urged the member federations of world football’s governing to back its reform proposals at Friday’s extraordinary congress.

Following a scandal-plagued period, FIFA is set to elect the successor to suspended president Sepp Blatter in Zurich, with Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Gianni Infantino the favourites to prevail.

But, before the ballot, FIFA members will vote on a package of reforms – known as the FIFA Governance Regulations – designed to help the organisation move on from its recent troubles.

Drawn up by the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee, the regulations include term limits and the disclosure of salaries for top officials along with outlining the formation and functioning of the FIFA Council – the 36-member body that will replace the Executive Committee and include a minimum of six women as it sets the organisation’s global strategy.

“The eyes of the world are on us this week after one of the most challenging times in our history. The approval of the reforms will send a strong message that we have listened and that we are taking the action necessary to regain trust and improve our performance,”  FIFA’s Acting President Issa Hayatou said in a statement.

“Each of these measures is critical for the future of FIFA and global football. We urge each of the member associations to support the reforms in full, and then to implement them in their entirety at home. It is a collective responsibility we have for football.”

Meanwhile, the regulations and the FIFA presidency are set to be voted on by 207 member federations, after the Executive Committee recommended that the suspensions handed to Indonesia and Kuwait’s national football federations should not be lifted prior to the ballot.

Indonesia and Kuwait are currently barred from taking part due to breaching FIFA rules on government interference within national football bodies and their status will be reviewed before Friday’s vote, although the Executive Committee has urged members to deal with both suspensions at the next ordinary congress, set for May 12 and 13 in Mexico.