KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- Francois Carrard, former director-general of the International Olympic Committee, has been confirmed as head of the revived reform task force being set up by FIFA in the wake of the latest corruption scandal.

Swiss lawyer Carrard has extensive experience of governance reform since he headed the IOC administration, under presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and then Jacques Rogge, which had to deal with the fall-out from the Salt Lake City scandal.

He will also be setting up his own personal advisory group in addition to the panel nominated by FIFA’s own confederations.

FIFA House . . . another task force, another chairman

Carrard said: “It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body. As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society.

“To that end, I will establish an independent advisory board, made up of representatives from outside football, to support the work of the committee and provide an additional layer of independent expertise.”

Gosper named

The 14 commission members include the Australian former IOC vice-president Kevan Gosper, one of two nominations from the Asian football confederation.

The other is Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, a major powerbroker in the Olympic movement, current IOC member and also a recently-appointed member of the FIFA executive committee.

Sheikh Ahmad is one of three members of the FIFA exco on the commission, the others being Hany Abo Rida, a vice-president of the Egyptian federation, and Constant Omar Selemanu, head of the football association of Congo DR.

The African confederation is the only one of FIFA’s six regions which has looked so directly ‘in-house’ for both its nominees.

UEFA, the European federation, will be represented by its Scottish legal director Alasdair Bell and general secretary Gianni Infantino. The nomination of Infantino is intriguing since he has been subject of speculation that he might become FIFA secretary-general if UEFA president Michel Platini wins the world federation’s top job at the extraordinary elective congress next February 26.

Thus far Frenchman Platini is the only heavyweight candidate to have declared formal intent though ex-FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon from South Korea is expected to follow suit shortly.

Villar Jr inclusion 

By far the most controversial inclusion on the task force is that Gorka Villar, director-general of the South American confederation CONMEBOL.

Villar is son of long-serving Spanish federation leader Angel Maria Villar who is a vice-president of both FIFA and UEFA and is considered one of the most conservative and anti-reformist of senior officials.

Two members of the commission have yet to be nominated by FIFA’s sponsors.

Carrard appreciates the challenge ahead. In a conference call with the international agencies he said: “This is a very big crisis, somehow comparable to what I experienced with the IOC. There are accusations of corruption against certain leaders and structural reforms which are badly needed. There is the interference of the political world, of the sponsors who are very unhappy – we had similar situations with the IOC – and there is the involvement of [judicial authorities].”

Outgoing president Blatter said: “We believe Dr Carrard is the right person to drive this reform process forward as an independent chairman with a proven track record in governance reforms.

“We are confident that he can help FIFA to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way. FIFA’s commercial partners will also play a key role in the reforms, and we will be discussing with them the most productive way to include their views.”

FIFA statement

Dr François Carrard has been appointed as the independent chairman of the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee.

As Director General of the International Olympic Committee, Dr Carrard guided the IOC through its own governance reforms in the wake of the bidding process for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. An internationally renowned Swiss lawyer, Dr Carrard brings specific experience of the challenges faced by global sports organisations such as FIFA.

Dr Carrard said: “It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body. As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society. To that end, I will establish an independent advisory board, made up of representatives from outside football, to support the work of the committee and provide an additional layer of independent expertise.”

The appointment of Dr Carrard was made following consultation with the six football confederations, each of which have appointed two representatives to the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee.

FIFA President Blatter said: “We believe Dr Carrard is the right person to drive this reform process forward as an independent chairman with a proven track record in governance reforms. We are confident that he can help FIFA to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way. FIFA’s commercial partners will also play a key role in the reforms, and we will be discussing with them the most productive way to include their views.”

Over the next six months, the committee will develop a package of reform proposals that will be put before the extraordinary elective Congress due to take place in Zurich on 26 February 2016. The work of the committee will build on the reform work FIFA has undertaken since 2011, including recent proposals developed by its Audit and Compliance Committee.

The Reform Committee will provide a preliminary update to the FIFA Executive Committee at its regular quarterly meeting on 24 and 25 September 2015.

Reform committee members (nominator)

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (Kwt) IOC member and FIFA exco member (AFC)

Alasdair Bell (Sco), UEFA legal director (UEFA)

Sarai Bareman (NZL), deputy secretary general of the OFC (OFC)

Mai Chen (NZL), founding partner at Chen Palmer, public and employment law specialists, barristers and solicitors (OFC)

Samir Gandhi (US), partner at Sidley Austin Law, New York law firm (CONCACAF)

Kevan Gosper (Aus), former IOC vice-president (AFC)

Gianni Infantino (Swz), general secretary of UEFA (UEFA)

Victor Montagliani (Can), Canadian Soccer Association president (CONCACAF)

Hany Abo Rida (Egy), vice-president of the Egypt FA, FIFA exco member (CAF)

Constant Omar Selemani (Congo DR), president of the FA of Congo DR and FIFA exco member (CAF)

Wilmar Valdez (Uru), president of the Uruguayan football federation (CONMEBOL)

Gorka Villar (Spn), director-general of CONMEBOL (CONMEBOL)

Two representatives to be appointed by FIFA commercial partners

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