The vital FIFA vote is on reforms

FI FA will hold t wo important elections Friday at its latest allexpenses- paid gathering in Zurich. Most of the attention will be on the second vote, to pick the organization’s new president. Fans, though, should pay closer attention to the first one.

In that election, most likely before the federations break for what will undoubtedly be a delicious free lunch, the 207 eligible members of FIFA will vote for or against a package of proposed reforms that would modernize the organization and, in theory, set the foundation for a transparent, trustworthy global governing body of soccer.

Be hopeful if you want. Hopeful because someone other than Sepp Blatter will be the FIFA president. Hopeful that the entire organiza- tion is on the cusp of monumental changes, from the inside out, and will change the way it does business.

Forgive me if I need some time before buying in.

Still, Moya Dodd, a member of FIFA’s executive committee, is calling the reform issue the most important vote in FIFA’s history, much more critical than the vote for president, which, naturally, has been brighter and shinier and has commanded more attention because of the personalities involved.

“The reforms will alter the entire institution and change the way people view FIFA, for the better, and that’s exactly what our sport needs right now,” Dodd said. “The reforms must pass. It’s critical. It’s the only way we can start changing the culture.”

The proposed reforms are exactly what the dishevelled, discredited organization needs to right itself. FIFA’s interim leadership has come out publicly urging their approval. But can we trust FIFA’s member federations to do the right thing? We’ll see.

Dodd, an Australian who is the chairwoman of FIFA’s task force for women’s soccer, has worked behind the scenes to ensure the reforms work to include more women in decision- making roles in the organization and for women to rise within the sport.

The current reform proposals, watered down from Dodd’s original suggestions, include having six women on a newly created 36- member FIFA council.

If you think that sounds as if FIFA is at last preparing to do business in the 21st century, you’d be right. Better late than never.

NOTES: Canada has thrown its support behind UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.

The decision was made unanimously by the Canadian Soccer Association’s board of directors.

“We felt that he was really the candidate that could truly embrace the (FIFA) reforms that will be passed ( Friday) and actually implement them as a leader,” CSA president Victor Montagliani said.