Fifa discusses reforms amid new sponsor attacks

Executive committee to decide on decisions taken at congress

Fifa’s leadership held talks on reforms yesterday as sponsors who provide hundreds of millions of dollars demanded independent leadership of changes to football’s scandal-tainted governing body.

The Fifa executive committee — with president Sepp Blatter and vice-president Michel Platini both suspended — is holding two days of talks to discuss reforms proposed by top sporting official Francois Carrard who was named by the world body.

But top sponsors Anheuser-Busch, adidas, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa said reforms should be “subject to independent oversight”.

The multinationals are reportedly angry that they have not been given places on Fifa’s reform committee. They have in the past threatened to review their football deals.

In October, Carrard’s panel proposed limiting president terms at 12 years and barring those over 74 from serving on the executive. It also suggested the pay package of top officials be published annually and independently audited.

Reform doubts

The executive committee will decide whether to send the reform package for adoption at a special Fifa congress on February 26, when Blatter’s replacement will be chosen.

The meeting is being held on the fifth anniversary of the 2010 vote that controversially awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.