Another step for a new FIFA
Brussels coalition meets on Wednesday
19 January 2015
The campaign to reform FIFA takes another important step on Wednesday when a coalition of stakeholders led by European and British parliamentarians, Ivo Belet (Belgium EMP), Emma McClarkin (England EMP) and Damian Collins MP, meets in Brussels.
Spokesman Damian Collins reiterated that the purpose of the Brussels Coalition is to discuss the mechanisms for how change can happen.
“Change doesn’t happen overnight, and we are in this for as long as it takes,” he said.
Speakers include the man who led the technical inspections of the nine bidding nations, Chilean Harold Mayne-Nicholls, on the process of awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts; as well as one of the declared candidates for the 2015 FIFA Presidential election, Jerome Champagne.
Two people who were part of losing Bid teams will also talk about FIFA’s failure to address the allegations of corruption fully. Lord David Triesman was head of the England Bid and English FA until May 2010 and Bonita Mersiades was a senior executive of the Australian Bid until January 2010.
Swiss-based Australian businessman, Jaimie Fuller who is Chairman of SKINS, will bring a commercial perspective to proceedings on the importance of mobilising sponsors, fans and consumers to the campaign.
Prior to an open question and answer session, three senior European officials will talk about the role and impact of European institutions in sports governance. The officials include Marc Tarabella MEP of Belgium, co-President of the Sports Intergroup of the European Parliament; Szabolcs Horvath of Hungary, Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Sport; and George Paterson from the Sports Unit of the Director-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.
Collins will talk about why there is no alternative to fundamental reform of FIFA, regardless of the outcome of the Presidential election, and present a preliminary Charter as the basis for reform.
He reiterated earlier comments that the Brussels meeting is ‘not about shifting deck chairs on the Executive Committee of FIFA.’
“Our agenda is for real change in a new style of organisation and with a new style of governance consistent with FIFA’s privileged position as custodians of the biggest sport in the world,” Collins said.
“Last year, the world celebrated the 25th anniversary of something many people said would ‘never’ happen – the fall of the Berlin Wall. 16 years ago, people said the Olympic movement could never get past its corruption scandals. Two years ago, people said that world cycling could not be cleaned-up.
“History shows that change can and does happen, even in seemingly impenetrable circumstances.
“Wednesday’s meeting is the first step in helping to see football governed by people who make decisions and take action in a transparent manner and who are held accountable in the best interests of the sport and civil society.”
Collins said that two other declared candidates, Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and David Ginola, have also been invited to attend and speak.
He urged all fans and players of the game to support the campaign for a new FIFA now and to show support by signing the petition at www.newfifanow.org.
ENDS
The campaign to reform FIFA takes another important step on Wednesday when a coalition of stakeholders led by European and British parliamentarians, Ivo Belet (Belgium EMP), Emma McClarkin (England EMP) and Damian Collins MP, meets in Brussels.
Spokesman Damian Collins reiterated that the purpose of the Brussels Coalition is to discuss the mechanisms for how change can happen.
“Change doesn’t happen overnight, and we are in this for as long as it takes,” he said.
Speakers include the man who led the technical inspections of the nine bidding nations, Chilean Harold Mayne-Nicholls, on the process of awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts; as well as one of the declared candidates for the 2015 FIFA Presidential election, Jerome Champagne.
Two people who were part of losing Bid teams will also talk about FIFA’s failure to address the allegations of corruption fully. Lord David Triesman was head of the England Bid and English FA until May 2010 and Bonita Mersiades was a senior executive of the Australian Bid until January 2010.
Swiss-based Australian businessman, Jaimie Fuller who is Chairman of SKINS, will bring a commercial perspective to proceedings on the importance of mobilising sponsors, fans and consumers to the campaign.
Prior to an open question and answer session, three senior European officials will talk about the role and impact of European institutions in sports governance. The officials include Marc Tarabella MEP of Belgium, co-President of the Sports Intergroup of the European Parliament; Szabolcs Horvath of Hungary, Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Sport; and George Paterson from the Sports Unit of the Director-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.
Collins will talk about why there is no alternative to fundamental reform of FIFA, regardless of the outcome of the Presidential election, and present a preliminary Charter as the basis for reform.
He reiterated earlier comments that the Brussels meeting is ‘not about shifting deck chairs on the Executive Committee of FIFA.’
“Our agenda is for real change in a new style of organisation and with a new style of governance consistent with FIFA’s privileged position as custodians of the biggest sport in the world,” Collins said.
“Last year, the world celebrated the 25th anniversary of something many people said would ‘never’ happen – the fall of the Berlin Wall. 16 years ago, people said the Olympic movement could never get past its corruption scandals. Two years ago, people said that world cycling could not be cleaned-up.
“History shows that change can and does happen, even in seemingly impenetrable circumstances.
“Wednesday’s meeting is the first step in helping to see football governed by people who make decisions and take action in a transparent manner and who are held accountable in the best interests of the sport and civil society.”
Collins said that two other declared candidates, Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and David Ginola, have also been invited to attend and speak.
He urged all fans and players of the game to support the campaign for a new FIFA now and to show support by signing the petition at www.newfifanow.org.
ENDS