Former IOC Official Appointed to Lead FIFA Reforms

(ATR) Francois Carrard says he is "committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms."

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ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 18:  International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Francois Carrard holds a press conference August 18, 2004 in Athens. He announced that Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and team mate Katerina Thanou as well as their coach Christos Tsekos have withdrawn from the Athens games after the athletes missed a drugs test last Thursday, and then were hospitalised after a motorcycle accident.  (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 18: International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Francois Carrard holds a press conference August 18, 2004 in Athens. He announced that Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and team mate Katerina Thanou as well as their coach Christos Tsekos have withdrawn from the Athens games after the athletes missed a drugs test last Thursday, and then were hospitalised after a motorcycle accident. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

(ATR) Francois Carrard is confirmed as chair of FIFA’s new reforms committee.

The composition of the task force was also named on Tuesday.

The Swiss lawyer was the IOC’s director general for 14 years, helping steer the reforms process that followed the Olympic committee’s Salt Lake City bid bribery scandal. Some IOC members were fired or quit the organisation after the cash-for-votes affair.

He began his IOC career in 1979 as a legal adviser, becoming director general in 1989. Carrard left the IOC in 2003 but has continued to offer legal advice. The 77-year-old currently sits on the board of directors of Olympic Broadcasting Services, the IOC's host broadcaster for the Games.

In a statement today, Carrard said: "It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body. As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society.

"To that end, I will establish an independent advisory board, made up of representatives from outside football, to support the work of the committee and provide an additional layer of independent expertise."

UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino has described Carrard as "an excellent person and he has the necessary experience", telling the Associated Press he is "a good proposal because you need someone who can unite".

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Carrard was "the right person to drive this reform process forward as an independent chairman with a proven track record in governance reforms".

"We are confident that he can help FIFA to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way. FIFA’s commercial partners will also play a key role in the reforms, and we will be discussing with them the most productive way to include their views."

Each of FIFA’s six confederations nominated two officials to the 12-member task force. Two additional representatives from FIFA's commercial partners are still to be announced.

Three serving FIFA ExCo members are on the task force - Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Egypt's Hany Abo Rida and Constant Omari of Selemani of Congo DR. UEFA's Infantino is the other high-profile official named to the panel.

Another IOC official, Australian Kevan Gosper, will wield some influence in shaping reforms to overhaul the scandal-hit world football body. Gosper is the Asian Football Confederation's other representative on the reforms panel. He is a former IOC vice president who was part of the reforms commission charged with cleaning up the Olympic committee after its corruption scandal.

The committee will set to work next month on developing a package of reform proposals that will be put before the extraordinary elective congress in Zurich on Feb. 26. According to the FIFA statement, "it will build on the reform work FIFA has undertaken since 2011, including recent proposals developed by its audit and compliance committee".

Term and age limits and the publication of salaries and compensation payments for top FIFA officials were part of recommendations in the global football federation's initial reforms process sparked by the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding scandal. But they were thrown out.

Carrard's reform panel will provide a preliminary update to the FIFA Executive Committee at its next meeting on Sept. 24-25.

FIFA is seeking to recover from the worst corruption crisis in its 111-year history. US authorities are investigating a $150 million bribery scandal spanning three decades that led to the indictment of 14 football officials and marketing executives in May. The scandal triggered Sepp Blatter's decision to lay down his mandate four days after being re-elected for a fifth term. The extraordinary congress in February will elect his successor.

Written by Mark Bisson

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