LAUSANNE: The two former heads of the FIFA ethics departments have reportedly launched their own company to advise on good governance in sports.

Cornel Borbely, who is Swiss, was chairman of the investigatory chamber for the world football federation, while German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert presided over the adjudicatory chamber which banned former president of the governing body of world football Sepp Blatter and UEFA head Michel Platini, among others.

In May FIFA, at the instigation of president Gianni Infantino, decided not to reappoint Borbely and Eckert even though they had many investigations in process. Borbely criticosed the decision as “politically motivated” and thought it ended FIFA’s “efforts at reform”.

The new company, the Sports Governance Unit (SGU), is based in Zurich and headed by Borbely, Eckert and Marc Tenbucken, a communications expert from Munich.

SGU said in a press release that its aim “is to advise associations, clubs, sponsors and governments on issues in the context of good governance, integrity and compliance in sports”.

The release went on to say that “international federations and clubs are faced with a growing pressure from external stakeholder groups” and that “fans and sponsors expect more and more transparency.” It also warned that “public authorities…are now closely monitoring the activities of sports associations and professional clubs”.

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