FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino publishes election manifesto
NYON: Gianni Infantino, FIFA Presidential Candidate, has today published his election Manifesto which details a series of proposals to ensure a fundamental step-change in improved governance and democracy at football’s world governing body and a renewed focus on global football development.
Launching his FIFA Presidential Manifesto on his new campaign website, Gianni Infantino said today:
“My Manifesto is based on three fundamental pillars – Reforms and Good Governance, Democracy and Participation and Football Development. These are for me the major priorities for action.
“Clearly rebuilding trust in FIFA is key and it is imperative that the organisation, and everyone linked to it, embraces reforms to ensure FIFA becomes a modern, credible and transparent world governing body. These reforms have to be both structural and cultural and we need to have much stronger transparency in financial management.
“I have outlined a raft of reform measures including the creation of a new FIFA Council; term limits for FIFA serving officials, including the President; the appointment of independent voices to key FIFA Committees; remuneration transparency for senior FIFA members; the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer; and a fully open tendering process for commercial and operational contracts. Taken together, these changes will, I believe, put FIFA on the path towards restored credibility and integrity.
“If I were to be elected, I also want FIFA and its Member Associations to look at significantly strengthening football development programmes, growing the FIFA World Cup, having a full debate on the use of technology in the game and creating a fair and transparent transfer system. I would also create new initiatives to utilise current and former players to promote football as a force for social good.
“FIFA and football have a lot at stake in this election. Football means so much to so many people all over the world and makes such a difference to so many lives. It is time for all those that love the game to stand up now and make the right decisions to take FIFA forward. The challenges FIFA faces are huge, but I believe that I have the right experience, vision and determination to drive the changes that are necessary.
“I have spent the last 15 years at UEFA, seven as General Secretary, and during this time I have put football first in everything I have done. I have always fought for our game. Whether improving competitions, growing revenues, stamping out discrimination or making UEFA governance procedures more equitable for every Member Association, big or small. This reflects the approach I would bring to FIFA, creating a fully-working, participative democracy with all the Member Associations involved in FIFA’s decision-making process.
“My Manifesto reflects my commitment to put football back at the heart of FIFA, and, working together with the global football family, I believe we can bring about real change and build a bright future for FIFA and for football.”
Gianni Infantino’s FIFA Presidential Manifesto can be read in full at his newly launched campaign website: fifaforward2016.com
Gianni will also participate in a media press conference in London in early February to set out his plans for office if elected FIFA President.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
Key elements of Gianni Infantino’s FIFA Presidential Manifesto include:
Reforms and Good Governance
- Create a new FIFA Council and clearly separate powers and functions
- Introduce term limits of a maximum of 12 years for the FIFA President and FIFA Council members
- Appoint independent members and respected football representatives from across the game to relevant FIFA Committees and create a new Football Stakeholders’ Committee with representatives from clubs, leagues and players
- Appoint a Chief Compliance Officer to further enhance governance standards and promote the principle of financial transparency in all of FIFA’s activities
- Introduce a proper institutional framework to ensure full transparency of money flows
- Implement a fully transparent bidding process for the FIFA World Cup
- Disclose remuneration of senior FIFA officials
- Implement a fully open tendering process for commercial and operational contracts
Democracy and Participation
- Create structures to ensure FIFA becomes a fully working, participative democracy with Member Associations intimately involved in FIFA’s decisions making processes
- Hold regular strategy meetings with Member Associations’ Top Executives
- Bring more diversity into FIFA, focusing on gender equality and representation from all around the globe
Football Development
- Expanding tailor-made development programmes to address the specific needs of each Member Association to develop football in their country with a special focus on infrastructure and equipment
- Streamline and coordinate all initiatives at FIFA, Confederations and Member Associations to avoid duplication
- Create an Exchange and Internship Programme to better facilitate the sharing of knowledge across football
- Support Member Associations focusing on participation of boys and girls at younger levels
- Intensify efforts to promote women’s football
- Promote club licensing as a development tool
- Create the LEGENDS Team to better reconnect with players and leverage their exposure to promote football as a tool for social good
- Clear rotation system for the FIFA World Cup whereby each Confederation would have to wait at least two editions before hosting the tournament again
- Start an open debate with all stakeholders on greater use of technology in football
- Improve relations with clubs
- Create a fair and transparent transfer system
- Revamp the FIFA rankings
- Use the social role of football to help improve society in various areas
- Create a special travel costs funds for Member Associations with specific travel needs to ensure that no Member Association is prejudices by its remote location or the high cost of travel
- Expand the FIFA World Cup to 40 teams
- Aim in the future to earmark at least 50% of FIFA revenues for direct distribution to its Member Associations for football development projects. In the meantime, the following development grants will be allocated:
– $5 million over four years per Member Association for investment in football development projects
– $40 million over four years per Confederation for investment in football development projects
– $1 million over four years for travel costs for Member Associations who need support
– $4 million over four years to each of the regional associations, in Africa, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, earmarked to organise youth tournaments for boys and girls
- All development grants will be distributed in strict accordance with the significant governance reforms outlined to ensure full transparency and the highest standards of accountability and openness
For more information
Onofre Costa
Rob Fawdon
About Gianni Infantino
Gianni Infantino has been UEFA General Secretary since October 2009 having joined the organisation in 2000. He leads a team of over 400 staff which has helped further strengthen both national team and club football in Europe and UEFA’s role as a respected and credible international governing body.
At the helm of UEFA’s administration and together with the Executive Committee, he has intensified UEFA’s work to provide a democratic and sustainable environment for European football. This has been achieved through initiatives such as Financial Fair Play, improved commercial support and an increased role in the decision-making process for Member Associations of all sizes, and the development of UEFA’s competitions at every level of the game – including the exponential growth of the UEFA Champions League and the expansion of the UEFA European Football Championships.
Gianni led the fight against social ills and threats to the integrity of football in Europe, including all forms of racism and discrimination, violence and hooliganism, and match-fixing.
Personal information and education
- Born: 23 March 1970 in Brig, Switzerland
- Education: Studied law at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland
- Languages: Fluent in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian
Professional activities
- Joined UEFA in August 2000
- Appointed Director of UEFA’s Legal Affairs and Club Licensing Division in January 2004 – led UEFA’s work in fostering close contacts with the European Union, the Council of Europe and governmental authorities
- Promoted to Deputy General Secretary before becoming General Secretary in 2009
- Appointed to the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee in August 2015
- Worked as Secretary General of the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES) at the University of Neuchâtel prior to joining UEFA, having previously been an adviser to a variety of FOOTBALL bodies, in Italy, Spain and Switzerland
