FIFA Appoint Former IOC Director-General Carrard To Lead Reform Task Force

By Christian Radnedge

The International Olympic Committee’s former director-general, Francois Carrard, has been confirmed as the head of FIFA’s latest reform task force to deal with the fallout from the recent corruption scandal.

Carrard, a Swiss lawyer, will also be setting up his own personal advisory group in addition to the panel nominated by FIFA’s own confederations.

“It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body,” Carrard said. “As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society.

“To that end, I will establish an independent advisory board, made up of representatives from outside football, to support the work of the committee and provide an additional layer of independent expertise.”

In a statement confirming the appointment of Carrard as chairman of the reform committee, FIFA said the lawyer was chosen because of his experience of guiding “the IOC through its own governance reforms in the wake of the bidding process for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.”

FIFA President Blatter said: “We believe Dr Carrard is the right person to drive this reform process forward as an independent chairman with a proven track record in governance reforms. We are confident that he can help FIFA to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way. FIFA’s commercial partners will also play a key role in the reforms, and we will be discussing with them the most productive way to include their views.”

The reform committee will meet over the next six months to draft proposals to put towards the FIFA executive committee at the extraordinary elective congress in Zurich on February 26.

The 14 members include a strong Olympic presence, with the Australian former IOC vice-president Kevan Gosper one of two nominations from the Asian football confederation.

The other is Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, a major powerbroker in the Olympic movement, current IOC member and also a recently-appointed member of the FIFA executive committee.

Sheikh Ahmad (pictured right) is one of three members of the FIFA exco on the reform committee, the others being Hany Abo Rida, a vice-president of the Egyptian federation, and Constant Omar Selemanu, head of the football association of Congo DR.

Europe’s governing body UEFA will be represented by its Scottish legal director Alasdair Bell and general secretary Gianni Infantino.

FIFA also say that two representatives from its commercial partners will be appointed on the body.

The elective congress will see Blatter step down as president with his successor being decided on that date.

UEFA president Michel Platini is the only candidate to have formally declared his intention to stand, although ex-FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon from South Korea is expected to follow suit shortly.

Reform committee members (nominator):

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (Kwt) IOC member and FIFA exco member (AFC)

Alasdair Bell (Sco), UEFA legal director (UEFA)

Sarai Bareman (NZL), deputy secretary general of the OFC (OFC)

Mai Chen (NZL), founding partner at Chen Palmer, public and employment law specialists, barristers and solicitors (OFC)

Samir Gandhi (US), partner at Sidley Austin Law, New York law firm (CONCACAF)

Kevan Gosper (Aus), former IOC vice-president (AFC)

Gianni Infantino (Swz), general secretary of UEFA (UEFA)

Victor Montagliani (Can), Canadian Soccer Association president (CONCACAF)

Hany Abo Rida (Egy), vice-president of the Egypt FA, FIFA exco member (CAF)

Constant Omar Selemani (Congo DR), president of the FA of Congo DR and FIFA exco member (CAF)

Wilmar Valdez (Uru), president of the Uruguayan football federation (CONMEBOL)

Gorka Villar (Spn), director-general of CONMEBOL (CONMEBOL)

Two representatives to be appointed by FIFA commercial partners