Saturday, April 30, 2011
Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany
FIFA president Sepp Blatter promises wide-ranging reforms if re-elected, including the way World Cup hosts are chosen.
Blatter told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine he also will set up a watchdog committee to supervise how FIFA works and “restore the credibility” of soccer’s governing body.
The 75-year-old Swiss is seeking a fourth term of office on June 1. His lone opponent is Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam.
Blatter said the process for selecting World Cup sites should be similar to that of the International Olympic Committee for Olympic venues.
FIFA was criticized for the way its last two World Cup hosts were picked — Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022). Both decisions came at the same time, with two executive committee members barred from voting because of corruption allegations. Four other senior officials were also suspended.
“It’s a project I’ve had at the back of my mind,” Blatter told the paper. “I would like to [follow] the example of the IOC, to prevent what happened.”
Blatter wants the executive committee to review 10 or 12 bids, narrow the field to the best candidates and let FIFA’s congress choose the winner.
The full congress includes 208 FIFA members — each representing a national association — who would all have one vote. Until now, World Cup hosts have been chosen by the 24-member executive committee.
Blatter wants to form a group aimed at bolstering FIFA’s standing, and he already know whom he would like to lead it.
“I can’t tell you the name yet. He will choose the other members,” said Blatter, adding they not come from within soccer. “They should be familiar with football but their priority will be to restore credibility.”