Scala Provides First Look at Proposed FIFA Reforms

(ATR) Head of the FIFA audit and compliance committee Domenico Scala has developed and released an eight-point plan to reform FIFA.

Among the changes Scala is proposing are 12-year term limits for executive members, direct election of executive members by FIFA congress, disclosure of full compensation, revised World Cup bidding procedures and a change in the executive committee structure.

"The reform process at FIFA is essential to the future of the organization and it must be guided by broad public discussion of all reform ideas. I am pleased to contribute my detailed plan to this process, which must be as comprehensive and transparent as possible to ensure its credibility," said Domenico Scala.

This is the first look at proposed FIFA reforms since calls for change within the organization were spurred by the arrest of seven FIFA officials in May on corruption and bribery charges. These arrests ultimately led to president Sepp Blatter announcing he would step down from his position at the beginning of next year.

Although Blatter announced his upcoming resignation, fans and sponsors wanted more to be done to change the governing body of football. In response, FIFA created the audit and compliance committee and a reform committee to bring about the changes desired.

Scala’s proposed changes have been heard by the reform committee led by former IOC director general Francois Carrard. The reform committee will have the final say in reform proposals that will be recommended to the FIFA Congress in February.

If the reform committee does not include Scala’s proposals in their final recommendations, any national federation could put Scala’s proposals on the congress agenda for discussion. Scala says he is not actively seeking a national federation to support his proposal.

"I do my role which is establishing the diagnosis and the facts. The document is public, the member associations have access to it, they are free to do what they want with it. My role is to say what is right… I have no decision-making power. I am here to advise and to recommend to the organization," he said.

It is unclear at this time if Carrard and the reform commission will consider the proposals of Scala. Some of the changes in Scala’s proposal could face opposition from FIFA executives, especially restructuring the executive body.

Scala recommends two separate bodies to govern and manage FIFA. The executive council would be replaced with a governing council elected by the congress and a management committee would be created to manage the day-to-day operations of FIFA.

If this and other recommendations provided by Scala are not in the final reform proposal from the reform committee, Scala says he will be vocal in analyzing the reforms chosen.

"I will make a judgment and I will make the judgment public. I am from time to time very clear in my assessment and I will make my judgment on the outcome of the process," he told reporters.

Scala believes changing the current structure of the organization and creating more opportunities for transparency will allow FIFA to move on from this controversy.

"These measures represent a practical approach to the reform proposals, which are necessary in order to be able to bring FIFA back on the path of integrity and credibility," says Scala.

Written by Kevin Nutley

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.