Blatter Reforms Target Cleanup of FIFA Corruption by 2013

(WFI) FIFA president Sepp Blatter announces the establishment of a "good governance committee" and three specialised task forces within FIFA, vowing to eradicate corruption in the organization and trying to restore confidence in his mandate.

Speaking at the end of the FIFA Ex-Co's two-day meeting in Zurich, Blatter also announced Friday that the ISL court dossier on corruption charges for FIFA officials will be opened and given to an independent body to evaluate further steps.

Blatter unveiled a "road map" for his anti-corruption plan – calling it "a Formula 1 model" – saying that FIFA will be cleaned of corruption by 2013.

The good governance committee, with not more than 15 members coming also from outside the game, will be required to present its first report by next March, Blatter said.

"I feel very happy … that we’re moving forward, especially thanks to the good governance committee which is like a watchdog, so that in 2013 we can present an image that is better than the one we have currently, that shows the will of the leaders not to dwell on the past, but face problems and find solutions," Blatter told a news conference.

The three task forces – Revision of Statutes, Transparency & Compliance and one to reshape the Ethics Committee – will support the new body with reform proposals and internal revisions.

Blatter appeared relaxed as he announced the reforms, considered the biggest test of his 13-year leadership at FIFA.

He also dismissed allegations that half of the members of the Ex-Co are unfit to serve, following a wave of bribery allegations against them linked to the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process.

"The institution is not corrupt, individuals may be corrupt and we will fight that," Blatter said.

"Members are elected by the different confederations and in the future, we will make a screening of the members.

"But I don’t accept when you say half of them are in a situation when theyshould not serve, this is definitely not correct," he said.

He also added that even if individual corruption cannot be avoided, "it doesn’t mean that the whole family is in the same situation."

The opening of the ISL dossier is another step in Blatter’s anti-corruption efforts. FIFA has sought to block the release of court documents which identify FIFA officials suspected to have received bribes from a former marketing partner.

"If there are measures to be taken they will not be taken by the Executive Committee, it is not a body that can take sanctions," Blatter said. "We will give this file to an independent organization so they can deleveinto this file and present their conclusions to us."

Blatter also added that he never considered resigning, especially after having just been re-elected at the helm of FIFA last June. "I have no intention, how could I, just having being re-elected.

"I have now to assure that the mandate given shall be carried out. The executive committee trusts me," he said.

"The first fruits of the roadmap to cleaning-up FIFA, including some of the members of the good governance committee, will be unveiled at the FIFA Ex-Co meeting on Dec. 17.

Blatter is now under pressure to keep to the timetable to deliver on his commitments to root out corruption in FIFA. These anti-corruption efforts will define the legacy he leaves in 2015 when he steps down.

"I feel very fulfilled and happy that the Executive Committee is completely in step with what we want to achive with the national associations and that we are moving forward," he said.

A spate of bribery allegations tarnished the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process and also the FIFA presidential race. He stood unopposed at the FIFA Congress in June amid a bribery scandal that engulfed his rival Mohamed bin Hammam and ultimately led to a lifetime ban for the Qatari. Former CONCACAF boss Jack Warner was found to have colluded with Bin Hammam to bribe Caribbean football officials and quit FIFA in the summer.

Blatter signed off from the press conference in an upbeat mood: "Let us work for transparency. Let us work for anti-corruption, going through the timetable we have here and let us look forward to how we will manage that."

Written and reported in Zurich by Marta Falconi.

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