By MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG – THE beleaguered Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has approved a package of reforms it believes pave way for significant improvements to the governance of the game globally.

The “landmark” reforms include a separation of commercial and political decision-making, greater scrutiny of senior officials and commitments to promoting women in football and human rights.

Some 179 of the 207 member associations present and eligible to vote at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland supported the reforms.

The congress will also elect a new FIFA President.

Acting FIFA President, Issa Hayatou, said the reforms represented an essential step towards the modernisation of FIFA’s institutional culture.

The reforms were based on proposals made by the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee and the subsequent recommendations put before the Congress by the Executive Committee in the form of draft FIFA Statutes.

“We stand united in our determination to put things right, so that the focus can return to football once again,” said Hayatou.

“The hard work of restoring trust and improving how we work begins now. This will create a system of stronger governance and greater diversity that will give football a strong foundation on which to thrive. It will help to restore trust in our organisation. And it will deter future wrongdoing.”LI

FIFA faces an uphill task redeeming its image after a torturous past few months.

Leaders have been linked with corruption, bribery, and alleged vote-rigging pursuant to the election of suspended President Sepp Blatter and the organisation’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Five candidates- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Tokyo Sexwale and Jerome Champagne- are vying to replace Blatter, with the election scheduled for Friday.

– CAJ News