Report: FIFA may weaken power of Executive Committee

FIFA may limit the powers of its executive committee, according to a report.

FIFA is considering significantly reducing the power of its Executive Committee, reports the Wall Street Journal. 

The Journal reports the committee will be “the first target of major reforms” during FIFA meetings in Zurich in September. 

FIFA chief auditor Domenico Scala is expected to propose removing numerous day-to-day responsibilities of the 25-person committee, according to the report. The proposed changes come in the wake of widespread arrests in a FIFA corruption scandal and the planned resignation of president Sepp Blatter. 

Proposed reforms include term limits for FIFA officials, a new model for FIFA management and limiting the authority of the executive committee to sporting matters, according to the Journal. 

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The report says term limits will be at the top of the agenda, with the hope of restricting members to “two or three four-year terms.” Blatter is currently serving his fifth term as president, and has said he will leave his post in February.  

The United States Justice Department, in conjunction with Swiss authorities, arrested 14 FIFA officials in Zurich in May for allegedly accepting over $100 million in bribes in exchange for rights to soccer tournaments. All have been indicted in federal court. 

- Rohan Nadkarni