9 Feb 2013

FIFA blasted over 'culture of nepotism'

6:01 pm on 9 February 2013

FIFA has been accused of encouraging a culture of nepotism by an independent body set-up to overhaul the way the football world governing body operates.

The commission says it is pleased with the way FIFA had implemented initial steps towards the creation of a framework of good governance and controls, including by reforming its Ethics Commission.

But it added in its report that FIFA has yet to adopt a few points of crucial importance for successful reform, which will be subject to approval at its next congress in Mauritius in May.

In a statement the commission said the lack of transparent structures and culture of nepotism affect the organisation's reputation and undermine its ability to show the way to ethical governance of the sport.

The commission also recommended the term of office of the president and members of the FIFA executive committee should be limited, all members of the executive committee be subject to an integrity check, and that two independent members attend meetings of the executive committee.

The FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced in October, 2011, the creation of the commission in the aftermath of a series of damaging corruption allegations which rocked the organisation.