New FIFA Now calls for further changes

New FIFA Now has been left disappointed by the reforms introduced by the sport’s governing body as it congratulated new president Gianni Infantino.

FIFA members approved a raft of reforms to the organisation after an overwhelming majority vote at Friday’s Congress in Zurich, before Infantino was elected president.

But campaign group New FIFA Now said the changes still left a lack of accountability among the game’s leaders.

“#NewFIFANow congratulates Gianni Infantino on his election as FIFA President and notes the adoption by FIFA Congress of changes to the FIFA Statutes recommended by the Carrard Committee,” it said in a statement.

“Notwithstanding that some reforms are inarguable and welcome, #NewFIFANow believes that they do not address the fundamental structural flaws within football nor, importantly, its culture.

“The reforms fail to make football accountable to the two most important stakeholders in the game – players and fans, as well as the clubs and leagues in which they play and that they support.

“We are of the view that expanding the membership of the FIFA Council and potentially the World Cup, does not address what it is purports to do, but entrench a larger power elite.”

It said that governance, finance and audit was still left with one official only and called for it to be more transparent.

New FIFA Now added that it would continue pushing for change.

“Of concern is the lack of checks and balances required of the 209 football associations and six confederations,” the statement continued.

“These entities are not representative of the game’s stakeholders, hold significant influence at the grassroots and professional level in their countries and regions, and yet remain unaccountable.

“Significant cultural and systemic changes are required at this level if the modest reforms agreed today are to have any real and lasting impact.

“We are disappointed that the FIFA Executive Committee did not agree to an independent advisory group to oversee reform. While this would not be as far reaching as an independent FIFA Reform Commission led by an eminent person that we have been recommending, it would have been an encouraging step in the right direction.

“#NewFIFANow will continue its advocacy to ensure that the game’s forgotten stakeholders get the world football administration that they want and deserve.”