Reforms key to cleaning FIFA mess � Sebego
Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday March 2, 2016 14:25
FIFA hogged the headlines last year over corruption scandals, which claimed the scalps of high profile figures including long serving president, Sepp Blatter.
Addressing journalists in Gaborone on Monday, Sebego said the new reforms mean “it’s no longer your way, but the people’s way”.
The reforms would cascade to continental and national associations, a development expected to raise the profile of football administration.
The FIFA reforms committee proposed three sets of principles for reforms. These are principles of leadership to effect cultural change at FIFA, principles of governance reform and principles to foster greater participation of member associations and stakeholders.
FIFA aims to, among others, cultivate a culture of humility, separate political and management functions as well as promote financial transparency and control.
The organisation has been saddled with reports of bribery over World Cup bids and financial irregularities.
The FIFA presidential terms would be capped under the new regulations: “Attach terms to elections and terms of members of the FIFA council and president, promote transparency of compensation, develop universal principles for confederations and member associations and give greater recognition of the role and promotion of women in football.” FIFA would, under the reforms, reduce its standing committees from 26 to nine to improve efficiency.
The hosting of the World Cup would not be awarded to members of the same confederation for two consecutive editions.
“These reforms are going to be cascaded to confederations and ultimately to member associations, the BFA included. That then means we should, in the meantime, work towards improving our own structures, principles and statutes so that we are found to be compliant when the time comes,” Sebego said.
He said the amended BFA constitution takes into account the majority of the FIFA reforms.
He however acknowledged more needs to be done to keep to the standards set by the FIFA reforms and the club licensing is seen as key in this regard.
Sebego attended the extraordinary meeting, which saw Swiss/Italian lawyer, Gianni Infantino, elected president ahead of Africa’s choice, Sheikh Salman.