SOCCER-FIFA/REFORMS REAX U.S. attorney warns superficial changes at FIFA will not be enough

Record ID: 143816

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/REFORMS REAX U.S. attorney warns superficial changes at FIFA will not be enough
  • Date: 11th August 2015
  • Summary: NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SEAL ON PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) KELLY CURRIE, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, SAYING: "We have a great interest in seeing a successful reform process at FIFA. Without getting into any specifics I can say that we hope that reforms will be deep
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4EJLRDYIQT8QWFY5VA5YCM841
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hours after scandal-plagued FIFA appointed Swiss Francois Carrard as chairman of their reform committee, the U.S. Attorney handling the investigation into corruption warned that superficial changes would not be enough.
    "We have a great interest in seeing a successful reform process at FIFA. Without getting into any specifics, I can say that we hope that reforms will be deep and they'll be substantial and we hope and believe that FIFA should put in place checks and balances and transparencies and accountability that are appropriate for an organization of its size and influence," Kelly Currie, the U.S. Attorney for the the Eastern District of New York, told the media on Tuesday (August 11) at a news event for another case in Newark, New Jersey.
    "Superficial changes at FIFA to its statues will not be sufficient and, likewise, mere changes of personnel in certain positions without a genuine commitment to good-governance will not be sufficient. And, as our investigation continues, we will be looking at what reforms are adopted and how they are implemented," he finished.
    FIFA announced earlier in the day that the Carrard, the man who helped the International Olympic Committee (IOC) out of their corruption crisis, would chair its reform committee.
    The 77-year-old is the former director general of the IOC and was commissioner of the Olympic body's reform commission following the vote for the 2002 Winter Olympics, won by Salt Lake City.
    The new FIFA committee was originally announced as a 'task force' of 11 members but has been expanded to 15 with Carrard, two members from each of the six continental football confederations plus two members to be appointed by FIFA's commercial partners.
    FIFA's corruption troubles came to a head in May when U.S. prosecutors indicted nine soccer officials, most of whom had FIFA positions, and five marketing and broadcasting company executives over a range of alleged offenses, including fraud, money-laundering and racketeering.
    Those named to the committee included Gianni Infantino, secretary general of European soccer's governing body UEFA, and Alasdair Bell, UEFA's legal director.
    Asia's representatives were Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah from Kuwait, a member of FIFA's executive committee, and Australia's Kevan Gospar, former vice-president of the IOC.
    North America will be represented by U.S. lawyer Samir Gandhi, of the Sidley Austin law firm in New York City and Victor Montagliani, president of the Canadian Soccer Association.
    The African Football Confederation (CAF) nominated Hani Abo Rida of Egypt and Constant Omari from the Democratic Republic of Congo -- both are members of the FIFA executive committee.
    Domenico Scala, independent chair of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee, has already formulated a series of reform proposals, including term limits and salary disclosure along with enhanced integrity checks, which will be on the committee's agenda.
    Carrard said he would also appoint a five-person advisory board and said he hoped to hold the first meeting of the committee by mid-September.
    FIFA said in a statement: "Over the next six months, the committee will develop a package of reform proposals that will be put before the extraordinary elective Congress due to take place in Zurich on 26 February 2016. The work of the committee will build on the reform work FIFA has undertaken since 2011."
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