FIFA Anti-Corruption Chief on Blatter; World Squash Day; Track Cycling Champs

FIFA Anti-Corruption Chief Doubts Blatter’s Motivation

The head of FIFA's Independent Governance Committee tells Around the Rings he is happy Sepp Blatter is showing a willingness to push through his reforms but seriously questions whether the Swiss will go far enough – and doesn't rule out stepping away from the process.

Mark Pieth, who chairs the 13-member panel, presented a 15-page report to FIFA’s Executive Committee on Friday that offered a series of recommendations to overhaul the governance of world football's governing body, whose image has been blackened by a spate of bribery scandals over the past 18 months.

FIFA's anti-corruption adviser was heartened that "they approved half of what we came up with," with other recommendations to be discussed at the May FIFA Congress in Budapest.

But he cautioned: "I am just not saying we are there... we made a few more steps."

Pieth said that the FIFA Ex-Co members "took some convincing by Blatter" to back various recommendations, the main one being approval of a two-chamber ethics committee and a new audit and compliance committee.

"Now we have to carry through with it and really get these high-level people for these two jobs [to head the judicial bodies] with a very good reputation and very independent. It's a tough job.

"I think he [Blatter] has made a big step for himself also. This is not without risk, what he is doing. He has basically forced these [reforms] down the throats of his colleagues."

But the Swiss law professor says he seriously doubts Blatter's support for his push to get FIFA to reveal the salaries of the president and Ex-Co members. And Pieth seems to concede defeat over his plan to bring in term and age limits. Under these changes, the FIFA chief and his colleagues would be restricted to two terms of four years.

"We demand transparency on the remuneration of senior officials including the publication of Mr Blatter's salary," Pieth told ATR.

"He doesn't like the age limit, he is offended by it," he adds in comments about Blatter, 76, who is serving a third four-year term through 2015 that he has said will be his last.

"These are issues that will take more time and need to be discussed. It will be really good for this institution to develop democratic ways."

For more from Pieth, visit WorldFootball INSIDER.

World Squash Day Scheduled

Squash’s campaign for a spotin the 2020 Summer Olympics scores its very own day.

"Back the Bid" will be the message on World Squash Day, scheduled for October 20.

"We would love to see every squash club on the planet getting involved on this special day so that thousands of players take part," said World Squash Federation CEO Andrew Shelley.

"That kind of response would help to show the kind of support that exists for the 2020 bid, especially in an Olympic year like this."

Follow this site for a list of World Squash Day events as they are announced.

Squash is vying with karate, roller sports, wakeboard, softball, baseball, sports climbing and wushu to secure the one place available on the program.The IOC will vote at its 2013 Session in Buenos Aires.

Last Lap for London Olympics

Track cyclists get their last chance to qualify for London 2012 at this week’s world championships in Melbourne.

Competition opens Wednesday at Hisense Arena with medal races in men’s team pursuit, women’s team sprint, men’s scratch 15km and men’s team sprint capping off the night session.

Finals in women’s team pursuit, men’s kilometer t.t. and women’s points race 25 km are scheduled for Thursday with women’s scratch 10km and women’s sprint to follow Friday; women’s keirin, men’s individual pursuit, men’s sprint and men’s points race 40km on Saturday; and women’s individual pursuit, women’s 500m t.t., men’s keirin and men’s madison 50km on Sunday.

The omnium – a six-event medley that replaces the individual pursuit, points race, and madison on the Olympic program for 2012 – is spread across Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Asian Boxing Qualification

A total of 25 quota places are up for grabs at the AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifying Event beginning Wednesday in Astana, Kazakhstan.

More than 130 athletes from 28 nations are expected to compete in this final stage of Asian qualification for London 2012.

The continent already secured 28 spots at last year’s world championships in Baku but will try to add more between April 4 and 13.

Reported by Mark Bisson and Matthew Grayson

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