Guiding Principles for FIFA Reform
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Updated June 2016
Democracy
1. The FIFA Council comprise no more than 25 people, with 21 positions, including the President and four Vice-Presidents, to be elected; and up to four positions to be appointed. 2. Elections should be held for half of the elected positions every two years, including two Vice-President positions. 3. Nominees for the elected members of the FIFA Council may be anyone who has held a football-related position in any capacity – administrative, executive management, voluntary, professional or amateur player or media – in the previous five years, subject to receiving the support of five member associations for nomination and to passing a ‘fit and proper person’ test. 4. There should be a minimum representation of former professional players on the FIFA Council. 5. There should be a minimum representation of women on the FIFA Council. 6. The three key stakeholders in the game – the grassroots including players, officials and volunteers who are represented by the 211 football associations, the professional game and fans – should have an input into the governance and management of the game via a capacity to vote for the President, as well as for the elected members of the FIFA Council via their Confederation. 7. The four appointed members of the FIFA Council be persons who have had no involvement in any sport in any capacity for at least ten years prior to appointment. 8. All FIFA Council members be limited to two terms of four years each. Transparency 9. Nominees for elected positions on the FIFA Council to publish the budget and sources of funding for their election campaign, and the staff or consultants engaged by them or their Confederation or member association if applicable. 10. All FIFA Council members, other Committee members and senior executives in decision-making positions to complete a pecuniary interests declaration that is published on the FIFA website within fourteen days of election. 11. The salary and all other forms of compensation awarded to the FIFA Council, members of other committees, the Secretary-General and other key management personnel be disclosed in the annual financial report and published on the FIFA website. 12. The minutes of the FIFA Congress, FIFA Council and all FIFA committees be published on the FIFA website within fourteen days of the meeting. 13. Each member association continue to receive equal distribution from the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), with amount designated for women and girls football and youth development, and subject to an annual report from each member association on distribution of their FAP monies. 14. Grants under FIFA’s Goal programme to be determined by a committee chaired by an appointed member of the FIFA Council on the basis of a published timetable with published guidelines, selection criteria, funding parameters, reporting requirements and performance criteria. All successful grant applications to be published on the FIFA website with annual progress reports provided on their implementation. 15. Tenders for marketing, broadcast, hospitality and licencing rights be conducted every four years, with details of the conduct of the tender included in the relevant annual published financial report. 16. Negotiations with sponsors be overseen by a non-elected member of the FIFA Council. 17. A tender for the external auditor of FIFA be conducted every four years and chaired by a non-elected member of the FIFA Council, with details of the tender included in the relevant annual published financial report. 18. Establish a one-off committee of relevant experts from around the world to investigate and recommend on the staging of future men’s World Cup tournaments. The objective would be to ameliorate the World Cup as a vehicle for geopolitical soft power and brand building of nation states, as well as the construction of ‘white elephants’ and the demands of government guarantees made by FIFA to host nations that compromise and jeopardise international and domestic law. Accountability 19. Member Associations be awarded an additional grant for each woman Board member or chief executive. 20. Member Associations that prohibit the involvement of women or girls in football to have annual funding reduced. 21. Any breaches of the FIFA Ethics Code to be dealt with by way of a zero tolerance policy. 22. The chairperson and members of the Ethics Committee, and any other chairpersons and/or members of other committees that are deemed relevant, to have had no involvement in football in any capacity for the preceding five years of their appointment. 23. An appointed FIFA Council member, other independent committee member, is not to be considered for a paid employment or consulting position within FIFA for at least five years after the term of their appointment is complete. 24. FIFA’s national and international legal status be designated as a public international organisation under the meaning of the OECD policy on Combating Bribery in International Transactions, and FIFA Council members be designated as ‘Politically Exposed Persons’ under Swiss law. 25. FIFA adhere to International Financial Reporting Standards. 26. Remuneration for the FIFA President, Secretary-General, FIFA Council members, committee members and key management personnel be brought into line with international standards for non-government organisations. 27. The level of FIFA reserves be examined by an independent one-off committee to give advice to the Finance Committee and FIFA Council. The objective would be to reduce the level of reserves to a requisite level for football operations within the four-year funding cycle, with the released funding available as grants for member associations to support infrastructure, facilities and competition development. Confederations and Member Associations 28. FIFA’s Confederations and Member Associations be required to introduce similar standards of democracy, transparency and accountability by 2020. Annual, written progress reports to be published on the FIFA website, until implemented. June 2016 |
Read the Charter for FIFA Reform. (online)
Download the Charter and Guiding Principles for FIFA Reform, January 2015 version (English, PDF) French (2015) German (2015) Spanish (2015) |