Bryan Swanson brings us the latest on FIFA from Zurich
Tuesday 21 July 2015 11:31, UK
Bryan Swanson looks ahead at what could be in store during the FIFA presidential race...
Sepp Blatter remains FIFA president for another seven months, but the starting pistol has been fired for a new-look presidential race that will not feature the 79-year-old on the ballot paper.
From today, any candidate can declare an interest in running for the office of FIFA president, and candidates can expect scrutiny and integrity checks from an Ad-hoc Electoral Committee.
The FIFA committee will meet on Tuesday to appoint its chairman.
Presidential candidates must apply by October 26, and they must have the declared support of at least five member associations in world football.
Domenico Scala, the top executive involved in overseeing the election process, has yet to confirm or deny whether he will run for presidency himself.
UEFA president Michel Platini has received the private support of some of world football’s top officials, and it would be a major surprise if Platini did not now declare his intention to stand for FIFA’s top job.
A winning president needs 105 votes out of 209 associations.
With a new FIFA president expected to be voted in on February 26, there is also the promise of further changes ahead for world football’s governing body.
But don’t expect changes to be made overnight; it has taken seven weeks simply to decide a date for the election.
The salaries of the FIFA president and top executives will also be made public, but not just yet.
It is understood members of the FIFA Executive Committee, excluding Blatter, receive a salary of around £192,000-a-year ($300,000).
Business-class air fares, luxury hotel rooms, and personal cash allowances contribute towards a generous package for the game’s top executives.
FIFA vice-president David Gill will receive his salary, but it is understood he will not claim additional expenses for himself and an official entitled to accompany him on FIFA duty.
Blatter repeatedly refused to disclose the presidential salary during Monday’s eventful news conference.
FIFA’s Executive Committee also announced its future intentions, long-term, but its lengthy statement was thin on detail.
A new FIFA ‘Reforms’ Task Force will be chaired by a neutral, as yet unnamed, chairman.
We will only learn more about the Task Force’s plans in late September, and any recommendations will only be approved at FIFA’s extraordinary congress on February 26.
FIFA reform can be a complex and time-consuming business.
