FIFA body must be independent

03 June 2011

The reforms announced by Sepp Blatter at the FIFA Congress are certainly to be welcomed - even if they are overdue (Sport, June 2).

But establishment of a new committee on corporate governance, while conceptually good, is flawed.

To be an effective, transparent and credible body, it should be entirely independent of FIFA and comprise external members suitably qualified and experienced and not affiliated to any other sport's governing body.

Whether the reforms will be acceptable to FIFA sponsors, who have rightly voiced their concerns, remains to be seen.

PROFESSOR IAN BLACKSHAW

International Sports Law Centre