CONCACAF has taken the first step toward global soccer reform, how long will it take for FIFA to follow in it’s confederations footsteps?
Barnstable, MA — After nose-diving into a second FIFA bribery scandal in four years the CONCACAF governing body decided enough is enough, after a meeting on the 4th of July in Vancouver, Canada.
The CONCACAF administration over the years had boasted some unique, corrupt characters — more reminiscent of Bond villains than soccer executives: You may remember Chuck Blazer and his $6,000 per month apartment for his cats in New York City’s Trump Tower, and Jack Warner whom thinks “the Onion” is a credible news source to defend himself with.
Taylor Twellman said on ESPN radio that he was not shocked about the indictments brought forward against 14 FIFA executives, adding that when he was playing certain things made him thing “something was going on.” Twellman asserted that the biggest take-away from the corruption charges was that “90% of it” was going on “in our own back-yard.”
“From a crisis standpoint, this is a pretty big crisis,” CONCACAF legal adviser Sam Gandhi told The Associated Press. “We have to solve our own problems and we need to show we are a leader.”
The details for the proposed reforms were published on Monday morning, just over 24 hours before CONCACAF’s “Gold Cup” tournament kicks off in Frisco, Texas.
The Gold Cup is CONCCAF’s marquee tournament and was also named in the 164 page indictment published by the US Department of Justice in May. The indictments against the Gold Cup claimed widespread corruption over the course of 24 years regarding the award of broadcasting rights for its international soccer events.
CONCACAF’s Gold Cup TV rights are held by the Traffic Sports USA Inc agency. President Aaron Davidson is one of the 14 executives named in the indictment. Traffic Sports USA Inc hold the Gold Cup TV rights through 2021.
CONCACAF have had enough of being looked down on by the rest of the global soccer community, and have taken steps recently to ensure that the corruption which has black-marked the governing body does not return.
CONCACAF say that “this Reform Framework reflects CONCACAF’s commitment to strengthening our governance, management, and operations.” The governing body’s statement goes on to say that
“In implementing the Reform Framework, the Confederation will demonstrate to its fans, sponsors, member associations and other stakeholders that CONCACAF is resilient and devoted to managing, developing, and promoting the game with accountability and transparency.”
The proposals CONCACAF has put forward in the Reform Framework are three-fold. Corporate governance; Fraud Prevention and Compliance; and Transparency. Below are a few bullet points which outline CONCACAF’s Reform Framework. You can read the full Reform Framework here.
Corporate Governance:
- Require a minimum number of members of the Executive Committee to be independent, i.e., not affiliated with any football-related activities of any member association.
- Impose term limits on all members of the Executive Committee, including the President.
- Approval by Congress of Executive Committee member compensation on an annual basis.
- Review and recommend changes to Executive Committee composition, nomination and election procedures to ensure greater representation and prevent entrenchment.
In the corporate governance section CONCACAF has outlined principles that will make them a leader in FIFA’s quest for global reform within soccer. The imposed term limits on the executive committee and it’s President is something many had called on for FIFA to implement so that Sepp Blatter would not continue his reign as chief of FIFA. Maybe now with one of the biggest confederations imposing these checks and balances, the rest of the soccer world will be forced to do the same.
Requiring members of the Executive Committee to be independent is one of the only ways in which Prost-Amerika believes world soccer can remain corruption free, and CONCACAF is the first confederation to confirm they will run their governing body this way.
Transparency:
- Make available publicly annual financial statements and budget of CONCACAF on website.
- All officer and Executive Committee member compensation reported under IRS Form 990 to be publicly available on CONCACAF website.
Transparency is something FIFA preached, but never really practiced. FIFA was listed as a non-profit organization which meant that they could get away with not publishing employee salaries, or the minutes of their meetings. In ESPN’s E:60 documentary an interviewee stated that it was “not right” that FIFA — a multi billion dollar business — have the same status and rights as a community yodeling club.
By making their financial statements and Executive Committee member compensation both publicly available on its website along with the administrative structure that will be put in play, CONCACAF has extended a strong olive branch to the soccer community in re-building trust with not only other confederations, but the entire global soccer community.
COCACAF has presented itself as a leader for change. Expect this theme to be present as the Gold Cup gets underway tomorrow with the United States, Honduras, Panama, and Haiti in Frisco, TX.
Follow Scott Nicholls on Twitter: @scottnicholls
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