ZURICH: The final pieces in the FIFA reform jigsaw – including age and term limits – will be settled by Congress in Mauritius on May 31, president Sepp Blatter announced after a two-day meeting of the executive committee.

On other issues Blatter said he had been mandated to mediate, personally, between Kosovo and Serbia over the match permission issue . . . and he also insisted that FIFA stood by the original decision that the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar were to be played in June and July.

Other exco decisions

** The names of the candidates for the judicial bodies (Disciplinary Committee, Appeal Committee and Ethics Committee), the Audit and Compliance Committee and the female member of the Executive Committee to be elected at congress  were presented to the executive

** The executive decided to propose to the Congress that two more women be co-opted onto the executive, in addition to the female member who will be elected at the upcoming Congress

** a FIFA Task Force against Racism and Discrimination was created, chaired by FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb

** the exco approved the 2012 Financial Report, with a positive annual result of $89m (revenue of $1,166m and expenses of $1,077m); 69pc of the expenses was spent on FIFA events and football development projects

** the exco approved the 2014 FIFA expense budget ($1,412m)

** the exco decided to donate $200,000 worth of football equipment and kits to Syrian refugees

Other decisions

Confederations Cup Brazil 2013: the executive noted with great satisfaction that the tournament has already been a popular success, with 75% of tickets already sold. The company that will provide the goal-line technology system for this tournament will be selectedby 2 April 2013.

World Cup Brazil™: the qualification dates of Group F in the African zone were re-scheduled to allow Nigeria to arrive in Brazil on time for the FIFA Confederations Cup (changed from 7 and 14 June 2013 to 5 and 12 June 2013). More information on this week’s meeting of the FIFA Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™ is available here.

2018 World Cup Russia™: the Preliminary Draw will take place in Saint Petersburg on 24 or 25 July 2015.

Club World Cup Morocco 2013: the match schedule was approved.

U-17 Women’s World Cup 2014: based on new guarantees received from the Costa Rican public authorities as well as the report received from CONCACAF, the executive re-appointed Costa Rica as hosts of the tournament.

Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™: the match schedule of the competition, which will be played for the first time with 24 teams, was provisionally approved.

Beach Soccer World Cup 2013: the match schedule was approved.

Re member associations

Antigua and Barbuda (ABFA): the deadline to hold elections has been extended until 15 May 2013.

Gambia (GFA): the mandate of the GFA normalisation committee was extended until 30 June 2013.

Guatemala (FNFG): the executive expressed its unanimous support for the FNFG with regard to its disciplinary decision, in a case of match-fixing, which has been challenged by a local court (more information here). FIFA will closely monitor this case to ensure that the FNFG’s sanction is duly implemented.

Indonesia (PSSI): the executive welcomed the fact that, on 17 March 2013, a duly constituted PSSI congress had successfully managed to implement the objectives imposed by FIFA. Subsequently, no further action is necessary at this time but the situation will continue to be closely monitored.

Miscellaneous

** The 2014-2018 international match calendar was approved.

** Iraq: the executive approved a request from the Iraqi FA to resume playing international friendly games at home.

** FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013 Gala will take place in Zurich on January 13, 2014.

** Next meeting of the FIFA exco will be held in Mauritius on Tuesday, May 28,  2013.

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