FIFA’s leadership held talks on reforms on Wednesday as sponsors who provide hundreds of millions of dollars demanded independent leadership of changes to football’s scandal-tainted governing body.
The FIFA executive committee — with president Sepp Blatter and vice president Michel Platini both suspended — is holding two days of talks to discuss reforms proposed by top sporting official Francois Carrard who was named by the world body.
But top sponsors Anheuser-Busch, Adidas, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa said reforms should be “subject to independent oversight”.
The multi-nationals are reportedly angry that they have not been given places on FIFA’s reform committee. They have in the past threatened to review their football deals.
In October, Carrard’s panel proposed limiting president terms at 12 years and barring those over 74 from serving on the executive. It also suggested the pay package of top officials be published annually and independently audited.
Reform doubts
The executive committee will decide whether to send the reform package for adoption at a special FIFA congress on February 26, when Blatter’s replacement will be chosen.
Sponsors are not the only group to express concern over the reform measures being undertaken by FIFA.
“We urge you to embrace positive changes and also recognise that this is just one step toward creating a credible future for FIFA,” the sponsors said in a letter to the world body. “Transparency, accountability, respect for human rights, integrity, leadership and gender equality are crucial to the future of FIFA. Reforms can set the proper framework for these characteristics, but a cultural change is also needed.”
A FIFA spokesman said in response that sponsors had already played “an important part” in the FIFA reform committee and that they would “continue to play an important role in the reform process.”