KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb has labelled the overhaul of the confederation as a major success, and says he is focussed on continuing to rebuild the image and integrity of the continental governing body.Webb took over the reins of CONCACAF in 2012 with the organisation’s confidence at an all-time low, following the controversial cash-for-votes scandal the previous year.
He has since moved to streamline CONCACAF’s operations by instituting several initiatives, such as a new Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct and the creation of the Audit and Compliance Committee aimed at improving accountability and transparency.
“Firstly, we started a transformation process, we also started a reform process … the governance of CONCACAF is at an all-time high, we have actively 21 committees that make decisions and recommendations to the executive body,” Webb told reporters while speaking at a media briefing ahead of the start of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship which kicked off here Friday.
“We have invested heavily in a process that embraces all aspects of CONCACAF. We are also in the process of instilling a new culture within CONCACAF in the way we conduct business. We have worked hard in restoring credibility and trust, which we value so much.”
He added: “I am very much satisfied as I believe we have seen a real transformation in CONCACAF – internally and externally, I believe that we have done and accomplished so much along this journey, yet there is so much more to be done and that’s where my immediate focus is.”
Webb is also a vice-president of football’s powerful world governing body, FIFA, and also sits on its executive committee.
The Caymanian banker was also appointed to chair FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, in an effort geared at stamping out racism in the game across the globe.
Having quickly become a leading figure in world football, his name has been bandied around as a future FIFA president but Webb said while he was willing to serve at any level, his focus was the continued development of CONCACAF.
“I have been asked [about a possible run for FIFA office] but as I said my immediate focus is with CONCACAF and my work continues there. Who knows what lies in the future, but right now my focus and firm commitment is with being the president of CONCACAF,” he stressed.
“We have accomplished a lot and we have so much more to accomplish … I believe in a better future for football and will never stop working for that hope and dream.”
CONCACAF serves as the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean.