October 15 – In his weekly column “Integrity Line”, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros,
The co-founder and global CEO, SIGA, wonders what should happen tomorrow, the day after the FIFA Council meeting.
The eyes of the world are on FIFA and today they are laser-focused on the FIFA Council, says De Medeiros.
“FIFA’s credibility is at stake. Its Council must commit to independent scrutiny and lasting governance reform, whoever leads it next. Every member who enters this room has a responsibility to the entire football community. Decisions made, and those avoided, will shape the credibility of FIFA and the institution its next leadership inherits.”
He points out that the question here is not so much who runs FIFA, but what kind of FIFA will begin to take shape after the meeting.
“An election determines who runs FIFA. It does not establish whether the system through which they run is fit for purpose. The Council must address this issue now,” he continues.
“The future of FIFA must be based on guarantees that no president can overturn, accountability that no election can suspend and an institution whose interests come before those of any leader.”
It says the issues surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise, the Peace Prize and the handling of disciplinary matters “span business strategy, political commitment and institutional authority. Each requires examination on its own merits, with evidence and full respect for due process.”
It also warns that “explanations will not establish whether FIFA’s governance is adequate. The review must examine the system behind the decisions.”
The review must contemplate “the exercise of the authority of the president, the ability of the Council to deliberate, authorize and supervise, the responsibilities of Congress and the administration, and the independence of the control and judicial bodies, they must include the major strategic, commercial and institutional decisions, beyond the controversies that have motivated them.
“The review must assess whether supervisory and judicial bodies can exercise their responsibilities effectively and independently, while respecting their jurisdiction over individual cases…”
“After more than thirty years of building and leading institutions in football and the sports sector in general, I know that strong leadership is necessary. I also know that effective governance cannot depend on a leader’s willingness to be challenged.
“The review must distinguish the rules that were broken, the safeguards that failed, and the rules that allowed inadequate scrutiny. Each requires a different remedy.”
Recognizing that FIFA is deeply divided to the point of being dysfunctional, he argues that only independent oversight can heal it.
“The deeper the division and mistrust, the greater the need for scrutiny that neither side controls.
“An internal task force can provide insights and help implement reform. It cannot, by itself, provide independent assurance about the system in which its members exercise authority.
“Nor does an external appointment automatically establish independence. Transparent selection, disclosed conflicts, sufficient tenure, access to evidence and freedom to publish must be ensured from the outset.”
He concludes: “By 16 October, world football should know what will be examined, how the reviewers will be selected, how independence will be protected and the timetable for publication of the findings. The necessary legal restrictions on disclosure must be narrowly defined and explained.”
To see the full text of Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros’ column, click here.
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