ZURICH: The reform proposals which will be put before FIFA’s extraordinary congress are arguably more important than the identity of the new president writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

This package is the product of the second reform attempt in five years. The latest proposals were initiated by audit and compliance chairman Domenico Scala and developed by a committee comprising two delegates from all six regional confederatins and chaired by Swiss lawyer Francois Carrard, a former director-general of the International Olympic Committee.

Issa Hayatou . . . presiding over congress

A three-quarters majority (159) is needed for the reforms to be adopted by a congress being led by acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou, the African confederation head from Cameroon.

The proposals:

Term limits: maximum term limits of three terms of four years for the FIFA president as well as all members of the FIFA Council, the audit and compliance committee and the judicial bodies;

Separation of political and management functions: A 36-strong FIFA Council [replacing the FIFA exco] would be responsible for strategic direction, while the general secretariat will oversee the operational and commercial activities;

Diversity: promotion of women to create a more diverse decision-making environment and culture;

Independent committee members: key financial decisions to be made by the finance, development and governance committees, which will have a minimum number of independent members;

Enhanced committee efficiency: reduction of standing committees from 26 to nine, with increased participation of the football stakeholders;

Integrity checks: compulsory and comprehensive integrity checks for all members of FIFA’s standing committees, conducted by an independent FIFA review committee;

Greater transparency and inclusion through broader stakeholder representation: creation of a stakeholders committee to include members representing key stakeholders in the game, such as players, clubs and leagues.

** The executive committee has also recommended that Congress approve the implementation of a new article to the statutes that commits FIFA to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and striving to promote the protection of these rights.

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