FIFA’S Member Associations yesterday approved a package of landmark reforms that pave the way for significant improvements to the governance of global football, including a clear separation of commercial and political decision-making, greater scrutiny of senior officials, and commitments to promoting women in football and human rights.The reforms were supported by 179 of the 207 Member Associations present and eligible to vote at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich.
The reforms were based on proposals made by the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee and the subsequent recommendations put before the Congress by the Executive Committee in the form of draft FIFA Statutes.
They represent an essential step towards the modernisation of FIFA’s institutional culture in key areas such as the clear separation of political and management functions, term limits, the disclosure of individual compensation, greater recognition and promotion of women in football and a commitment to enshrining human rights in the FIFA Statutes.
Furthermore, they include statutory principles of good governance for member associations and confederations, such as compulsory annual independent audit reports as well as independent judicial bodies to ensure a separation of powers on all levels of football structures.
“We stand united in our determination to put things right, so that the focus can return to football once again,” said Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou. “The hard work of restoring trust and improving how we work begins now.”
“This will create a system of stronger governance and greater diversity that will give football a strong foundation on which to thrive. It will help to restore trust in our organisation. And it will deter future wrongdoing.”
The main aspects of the approved reforms have been incorporated into an amended version of the FIFA Statutes.
In accordance with Article 29 of the current edition of the FIFA Statutes, the statutory amendments passed today will come into effect for the members 60 days after the close of the Congress.
The main aspects of the FIFA reforms are:
• Clear separation between “political” and management functions: The FIFA Council (replacing the FIFA Executive Committee) is responsible for setting the organisation’s overall strategic direction, while the General Secretariat oversees the operational and commercial actions required to effectively execute that strategy.
• Term limits for the FIFA president, FIFA Council members and members of the Audit and Compliance Committee and of the judicial bodies (max. 12 years).
• Election of Council members supervised by FIFA and in accordance with FIFA’s own electoral regulations; all candidates subject to comprehensive eligibility and integrity checks conducted by an independent FIFA Review Committee.
• Greater recognition and promotion of women in football with a minimum of one female representative elected as a Council member per confederation; promotion of women as an explicit statutory objective of FIFA to create a more diverse decision-making environment and culture.
• Disclosure of individual compensation on an annual basis of the FIFA president, all FIFA Council members, the Secretary General and relevant chairpersons of independent standing and judicial committees.
• Enhanced control of money flows.
• Universal good governance principles for confederations and member associations.
• FIFA’s commitment to human rights to be enshrined in the FIFA Statutes.
• New Football Stakeholder Committee to ensure greater transparency and inclusion through broader stakeholder representation (including players, clubs and leagues).