Fifa awake from sleep
BERNE – Fifa will appoint the two figures who will play key roles in trying to banish corruption from soccer’s governing body next week, a decision that was originally due to be taken in May.
Fifa ’ s executive committee will hold a special meeting on July 17 to confirm the nominations for chairmen of the two chambers of its recently reformed ethics committee, world soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday.
The meeting will also discuss its recent decision to allow a team representing the former Serbian province of Kosovo to play friendly international matches. The decision upset European soccer’s governing body Uefa as well as the Serbian football federation.
Fifa ’ s congress has already approved the decision to split the ethics committee, which in the past two years has been responsible for investigating several cases of corruption.
These related to the contest for the hosting of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and last year ’ s Fifa presidential election.
Though the ethics committee has banned a number of high-ranking officials, including Fifa presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam, who has been kicked out of the game for life, it has been criticised for not taking the initiative and only acting in the wake of media reports.
Top international prosecutor Luis MorenoOcampo, best known for pursuing war criminals, is expected to be named as head of the chamber responsible for investigating cases.
The other chamber will be responsible for judging cases and handing out sanctions.
The chairman proposed by Fifa’s independent governance committee declined the offer for health reasons in May, delaying the reform process. The members of the two chambers will also be confirmed next Tuesday, Fifa said. – Reuters