FIFA
BASEL, Switzerland – 26 March 2012:
FIFA appointed Mark Pieth, a former UN investigator, as anti-corruption expert to advise on institution of reforms and to manage corruption in the organization. The Swiss law professor’s 13-member panel includes soccer officials, sponsors and experts in clean government. Pieth’s panel also known as the Independent Governance Committee, has looked into the recent history of FIFA, including allegations of bribery and vote rigging in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests and its presidential election.
Pieth said that FIFA had rules but they were not followed. FIFA has already received a 15 page interim report. Pieth will explain the contents in detail to FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his high command during the two day meeting starting Thursday (29 March 2012).
Pieth will seek support for radical reforms from FIFA veterans and those who have not been marred by corruption allegation to implement his program. He wants FIFA to appoint outsiders – not those from Blatter’s staff – in key positions, and create a favourable environment to investigate alleged corruption, overseen by a restructured ethics committee.
