Own goal: FIFA needs to reform now

Update on the TI blog, what FIFA should do now.

FIFA's role

Football is the world’s most popular game with a global fan base in the billions. It is a role model for the youth everywhere and is an important vehicle for delivering a message of fair play, integrity and respect for the rule of law.

Football’s governing body must be an example of fair play. That is why it is so important for FIFA, the sport’s world governing body, to address the wave of corruption allegations against its executives. In the past, FIFA has sought to sweep the suspicions of foul play that surround FIFA under the rug. Now the rug is being pulled from under FIFA.

In the run up to the 1 June election for a new FIFA president, the FIFA ethics committee suspended two senior members of its executive committee, FIFA’s vice president Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam, a candidate for president, amid allegations of vote-buying from FIFA delegates. These involved the bids by countries to host the World Cup.

What FIFA should do

If FIFA wants to show that it is serious about tackling these accusations, fighting corruption and restoring the trust of the fans, it should have these allegations thoroughly and openly investigated by an external organisation.

FIFA has committed to becoming more transparent and taking a zero tolerance approach to corruption.

To implement this going forward, FIFA needs to change its structure and culture. Such fundamental change can only be led from the top.

FIFA’s president Sepp Blatter, elected for a fourth four-year term on 1 June, should take the following steps to bring about this change:

• Bring in clear rules on how to deal with allegations of corruption, as well as transparent reporting and accounting rules
• Appoint an empowered ombudsman
• Launch a review of the existing code of ethics including the competences of the ethics committee
• Introduce compliance clauses for all contracts, including FIFA’s financial support for member federations
• Review the tender and awarding procedure of events as well as TV-rights and sponsorship contracts.

As a first step, FIFA should publish a clear timetable for reform measures.

Rebuilding trust

Throughout its history, the workings of football’s governing body have been opaque. If FIFA wants to rebuild trust it must embrace transparency. If it does not, FIFA's reputation and the trust of football supporters will be severely damaged.

Pressure must be brought to bear on FIFA not only from the world of football but also from the media, the sponsors, and from politicians to institute reforms.

Football needs transparency

Football will continue to face great challenges in the coming years, especially from match-fixing scandals which have already damaged the game’s credibility in dozens of countries, from Germany and Italy to Brazil and South Korea.

In November 2009, German police arrested 17 people on suspicion of fixing at least 200 soccer matches in nine countries. The threat even reaches to the Champions League that brought joy to millions in May.

Transparency International has repeatedly called on FIFA to face these challenges by leading by example. Without leadership, it is not possible to spread a commitment to acting with integrity throughout your organisation.

The German Bundesliga (Deutsche Fussball Liga) is already working with TI Germany to raise awareness and provide training for players and officials. Just last week they created an independent ombudsman as part of their Transparency and Integrity in Football project. The ombudsman will, among other things, enable whistleblowers from the world of football to report corruption.

This is not the only integrity in sport initiative going on around the world. TI chapters highlight the role sport can play in fostering values like integrity and honesty to youth.

The TI chapter in Argentina, Poder Ciudadano has transparency guidelines for sporting organisations including regular asset disclosure by directors and publishing of budgets.

Resources

TI Working Paper: Corruption and Sport: Building Integrity and Preventing Abuses

TI Press Release regarding FIFA, 31 May 2011

TI blog posts on football