FIFA cannot reform under Sepp Blatter says sponsor Visa
Friday 24 July 2015 11:08, UK
The head of leading FIFA sponsor Visa says football’s governing body cannot deliver meaningful reforms until Sepp Blatter has left his position as president.
Blatter is insistent he will remain in the role until the election of his successor on February 26 next year and has even announced a task force to bring in reforms.
However, Visa chief executive Charlie Scharf said FIFA's response to the corruption crisis had been "wholly inadequate" and joined fellow sponsors Coca-Cola in demanding a fully-independent reform commission.
Scharf said: "We view the stewardship of our company, our brand, and our clients with the utmost importance and try to hold ourselves to the highest standards.
"We seek to partner with those who think and act like us. I don't believe that FIFA is living up to these standards. Furthermore, their subsequent responses are wholly inadequate and continue to show its lack of awareness of the seriousness of the changes which are needed.
"To this end, we believe two things need to happen to ensure credible reform. First, an independent, third-party commission led by one or more impartial leaders is critical to formulate reforms.
"Second, we believe no meaningful reform can be made under FIFA's existing leadership. Football itself is a great sport with which we are proud to be associated. We want to be proud to be associated with FIFA and hope and look forward to working with them to that end."
Seven FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich in May after the US justice department indicted a total of 18 people on football-related corruption charges.
A separate investigation into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has been launched by Swiss prosecutors.
Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA's audit and compliance committee, has emerged as a candidate to head the reform task force but it is not clear whether he would be separate enough from FIFA to satisfy Visa.
