“The reform process at FIFA is essential to the future of the organisation and it must be guided by broad public discussion of all reform ideas,” said Scala. “I am pleased to contribute my detailed plan to this process, which must be as comprehensive and transparent as possible to ensure its credibility.”

On 20 July 2015, FIFA’s Executive Committee committed to further reforms of the association’s structures and processes.

The body was briefed on and welcomed the reform ideas outlined in Scala’s eight-point plan (see FIFA media release from 20 July 2015), which is being published in full il today Subsequently, the Executive Committee appointed the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee to lead the process. Scala briefed the Reform Committee on his plan at the Committee’s first meeting on September 2.

As the current reform process progresses, it’s important to recognise that important reform measures have already been implemented by FIFA, and these have improved governance. In particular, an independent ethics committee with two chambers elected by Congress and an audit & compliance committee have been formed. Additionally, the allocation of World Cups now occurs directly through Congress and no longer through the Executive Committee.

The next reform steps must build on what has already been achieved. The eight-point plan issued today is important to that effort and includes the following:

1. Enhanced and centralized integrity checks

•  Integrity checks performed by the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee with regard to all members of the present Executive Committee and other holders of positions in key FIFA bodies (and respective candidates)

•  Enhancement and material expansion of the integrity checks

•  Introduction of an obligation for Confederations and Member Associations to establish integrity checks with regard to positions in their top governing bodies as a precondition for eligibility

2. Introduction of Term limits

•  Limitation of the mandate of the President, the (other) members of the Executive Committee, the Secretary General and members of independent committees to three terms of office (each of four years)

•  Introduction of an obligation for Confederations and Member Associations to establish equivalent limitations (precondition for eligibility)

3. Direct election of FIFA Executive Committee members by the Congress

•  The members of the FIFA Executive Committee (as well as, possibly, of other FIFA governing bodies or committees) to be directly elected by the FIFA Congress

•  Confederations will retain a right to propose candidates

4.  Disclosure of individual compensations

•  Individual and detailed disclosure of the remunerations of the President, the other members of the FIFA Executive Committee, the Secretary General and (at least) of the Chair-men of the independent committees

•  All football-related income and compensations must be disclosed comprehensively

•  Detailed disclosure only vis-à-vis FIFA internally; the FIFA financial report will merely feature listings by certain categories

5.  Increased efficiency and enhanced independence of Standing Committees

•  Significant reduction of the number and size of the standing committees

•  Committees that bear a high risk of conflicts of interests occurring must have independent chairmen

6. Introduction of higher standards of governance at Confederation and member association levels

•  If they have not already done so, Confederations and FIFA member associations have to issue adequate ethics and disciplinary regulations and set up the bodies required to implement them

•  Confederations and FIFA member associations have to comply with high standards of governance based on relevant ‘best practice’

•  All persons assigned to FIFA bodies have to pass strict integrity checks in their respective Confederations and national associations

7. Revised World Cup bidding rules and procedures

•  No additional proposals, since this bundle of measures has already been adopted and is now merely to be (further) implemented

8. Improvements regarding FIFA’s organisation and structure

•  More clear and strict separation of strategic decision-making, or supervisory competences respectively, and performance of day-to-day business

•  Division of the present Executive Committee into two separate bodies: a Governing Body (strategic matters, supervision) and a Management Board (executive functions)

•  Composition of the Governing Body will be similar to the one applicable to the present Executive Committee; however, representation of the Confederations will be modified and other stakeholders from outside FIFA will be involved

Further improvement of financial control mechanisms, in particular with regard to development funds

More clear and strict separation of sports-related and commercial competences and matters, in particular by establishing a Commercial Board and a Development Board (both independent bodies“These measures represent a practical approach to the reform proposals, which are necessary in order to be able to bring FIFA back on the path of integrity and credibility,” says Domenico Scala.

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