3 March 2015

Football Associations around the world have today been advised that FIFA needs to “bridge its reputation abyss” as a matter of first priority.

In a letter to all member associations of FIFA and the six Confederations, spokesman for the #NewFIFANow coalition, Damian Collins MP of England, said there is little-to-no trust or confidence that FIFA is capable of reform.

“Amongst other things, we believe that FIFA’s stakeholders should have greater representation in the management and governance of the sport,” he wrote.

Collins said a FIFA Reform Commission would have a mandate for a comprehensive review of the organisation, similar to the IOC Reform Commission more than 15 years ago.

“The IOC today is not a perfect organisation, but it’s better than it used to be at the time – and that came about because what was needed for reform was done at arm’s length from the organisation.”

The letter acknowledges that FIFA has made attempts at reform in the past four years.

“The reforms that have been introduced have not resulted in the necessary systemic and cultural change that is required to see FIFA transform into a contemporary 21st century organisation with the highest standards of democracy, transparency and accountability,” the letter states.

Aware that FIFA tends to cry ‘government intervention’ if it doesn’t like government-initiated action, Mr Collins said that governments around the world with an interest in social inclusion within their communities, and who often make a public financial contribution to the sport, have a right and responsibility to advocate for necessary change.

“This is about ensuring that the world’s most popular sport is managed in a way that is consistent with the highest levels of probity expected of our major institutions,” he said.

Collins and other members of the #NewFIFANow coalition are pursuing a number of strategies and working with different stakeholders with the aim of establishing a FIFA Reform Commission regardless of who is elected President in May.

He told the football associations that they are not advocating a vote for a particular candidate.

“We are advocating a program of reform regardless of who is President – reform that can lead to a transformative vision of FIFA as a principled, trusted and credible organisation.

“The many millions of people who are involved in the game voluntarily or professionally deserve to be represented in a manner which gives them confidence that decisions are taken in the interests of the long term development and growth of the game.”

A full text of the letter in English, Arabic, French, German and Spanish can be found at www.newfifanow.org.

Collins said he encourages all fans and players to support #NewFIFANow by signing the petition for change.

ENDS