Blatter holds talks over FIFA reform

June 05, 2015 | 10:38

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Outgoing president Sepp Blatter held talks on Thursday with the head of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee on "comprehensive reform" for football's embattled governing body.

File photo of Sepp Blatter at a meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee on Sep 26, 2014 at the organistation's headquarters in Zurich. (AFP/Sebastien Bozon)

PARIS: Outgoing president Sepp Blatter held talks on Thursday (Jun 4) with the head of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee on "comprehensive reform" for football's embattled governing body.

Blatter met Domenico Scala, independent chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee, 48 hours after the 79-year-old's shock resignation as head of the sport's crisis-riddled ruling authority.

A FIFA statement reported: "Following his announcement on Tuesday that he will lay down his mandate at an Extraordinary Elective Congress at the earliest possible opportunity, President Blatter and Mr. Scala are now working on the process to instigate meaningful reform of the administration and structure of FIFA."

Blatter said his "constructive" meeting with Scala had taken place "to establish a framework for action and a timetable". He added: "I am pleased to take advice and guidance from Mr. Scala.

"I want a comprehensive programme of reform and I am very aware that only the FIFA Congress can pass these reforms. Furthermore, the Executive Committee has a particular duty to share the responsibility of driving this process."

Blatter, controversially elected for a fifth term as FIFA chief last Friday, will be replaced by a new president at a FIFA Congress in Zurich between December this year and March 2016.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said any reforms should cover future FIFA presidencies. "There is without doubt the need for a limitation of mandate," Blatter's effective righthand man told RTL French radio.

FIFA executives last year rejected by a show of hands the notion of introducing age and limits on terms of office.

AFP

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