The high-profile person, who will head up the task force established to fine-tune crucial reforms of football’s scandal-hit world governing body FIFA will be named very soon a source close to the organisation’s leadership said.
However, any changes put to September’s meeting of the FIFA executive committee could, according to senior sources, face stiff opposition despite the calls from major sponsors for there to be serious reforms following the US authorities charging 14 people, including three former FIFA vice-presidents, of taking or giving millions of dollars of bribes in return for football marketing and television contracts.
FIFA’s outgoing president Sepp Blatter announced on Monday that an 11-strong task force, with an independent chairperson, would prepare reforms including limits on terms for leaders, tougher background checks on executive committee members and the publication of salaries of top officials.
Pressure from major sponsors has come in recent weeks for FIFA to name an independent commission led by a heavyweight figure to prepare reforms to be put to the congress when a new president is elected on February 26.
Some officials mentioned the name of Kofi Annan. But the former UN secretary general made it known that he already has a “busy schedule” and is not interested.
However a source close to the FIFA leadership said that a name would be announced “very soon”. The source said the task force would have to get to work quickly to prepare a “succinct report” on the reforms to put to a FIFA executive committee in September.
The head of the group is to be named by Blatter and the heads of the six regional confederations within FIFA.
The four main confederations — UEFA, CAF, AFC and CONCACAF — will each name two members of the commission. CONMEBOl and the Oceania confederation will name one apiece.
“Despite everything that has happened many of these regional heads remain opposed to the new reforms,” said a former member of the FIFA executive committee.
Blatter has repeatedly accused UEFA of blocking past reform efforts. “But Europe is not alone in worrying about these reforms,” the former executive member said.
“Nearly all the regional heads have reasons to want to water down the measures. Some have legitimate concerns about how the reforms will work and be applied. Some do not want interference in their territory. Some are worried about their own positions.
“This campaign will take a long time, almost certainly beyond the election congress and it will be a tough battle. There will be efforts to water down these measures.”
2-game ban for reacting to alleged racism
St Petersburg: Soccer authorities in 2018 World Cup host Russia have imposed a two-match ban on a Ghanaian player who was sent off for his reaction to alleged racist abuse.
Spartak Moscow, whose fans were accused of taunting FC Ufa midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, were not punished.
Frimpong gestured with a finger toward the Spartak stands, for which he received a straight red card. The Russian Football Union says Frimpong was banned for an “offensive gesture to spectators.”
European court rejects FFP challenge
Nyon (Switzerland): UEFA says it has won at the European Union’s supreme court after a legal challenge to “Financial Fair Play” rules that curb club spending was thrown out.
The case went through a local Brussels court after the European Commission decided it had no merit. The case was brought by a player’s agent in Belgium and fan groups linked to Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain. UEFA fined both clubs 20 million euros ($21.8 million) in 2014 for breaking FFP rules.
They argued that FFP protects elite clubs, and were represented by lawyer Jean-louis Dupont. He helped win the landmark Bosman case on the contractual freedom of players 20 years ago.