FIFA Presidential candidate Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa has revealed he will “divide” world football’s governing body if he wins the upcoming election in February.
The Asian Football Confederation President has published his manifesto online and believes that FIFA’s football role must be separated from its commercial arm.
Much of the corruption scandal that has engulfed the organisation has involved alleged bribes for television and marketing deals and Sheikh Salman wants a clear split.
“To reach the goal of becoming a model organisation, FIFA must separate commercial from regulatory activities by restructuring itself into Football FIFA, that runs and governs football professionally, and Business FIFA, that deals with commerce, marketing contracts and income generation,” he said.
“This would simultaneously improve both FIFA’s governance and its finances.
“The Football FIFA is what FIFA is or should be today: it delivers huge events, governs and develops the global game, sets standards, supervises proper conduct by all, delivers quality services to its members and is the custodian for the game we all love.
“The Business FIFA will be a commercial, independent body of savvy marketing and rights professionals.
“They will have the function to optimise Business FIFA’s income, to ensure that the game is well financed so that we can increase our contributions to our associations and stakeholders, whilst ensuring FIFA’s TV partners and sponsors also promote and develop local football.
“Only by strictly separating the generation of funds and supervising the flow of all monies spent can we guarantee the rebirth of a new FIFA that is accountable and is a good corporate citizen that deserves everybody’s respect.”
Sheikh Salman, from Bahrain, promised he will also look to create a global integrity and anti-corruption agency, which would be jointly owned and run by sports groups with law enforcement bodies around the world.
He claimed his role would be “professional” instead of political, envisioning himself in a non-executive position that would not command a salary.
Experts who are not necessarily from the world of football would also be brought in to shake up the organisation.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, Jordanian Football Association chief Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Frenchman Jérôme Champagne and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale are Sheikh Salman’s rivals for the FIFA Presidency.
The vote to decide who replaces outgoing President Sepp Blatter, who was suspended for eight years earlier this month, is due to take place at FIFA’s Extraordinary Congress in Zurich on February 26.
Sheikh Salman’s manifesto can be read at World Football Redefined Restructured Revitalised.pdf
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- By Dan Palmer
This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, www.insidethegames.biz
- By Dan Palmer