Interim president Hayatou looks to steer scandal-hit body to safety
Michel Platini (left) and Issa Hayatou in this file photo.
Zurich: Fifa’s executive committee were gathering on Tuesday as acting president Issa Hayatou attempts to steer football’s embattled governing body through the latest storm of scandals to blight their Zurich headquarters.
The extraordinary meeting was announced on October 9 after Fifa’s ethics committee suspended president Sepp Blatter, secretary general Jerome Valcke, and Michel Platini for 90 days from all football-related activities.
The trio are all banned from attending what will be the first executive committee meeting held without Blatter’s presence for 40 years and Hayatou sees restoring public trust as a matter of priority.
Cameroon’s Hayatou takes charge of Fifa’s helm amidst the worst scandals in the organisation’s 111-year history and it will be far from business as usual. “It’s certainly an unprecedented situation for Fifa,” said the 69-year-old.
“But we remain focused on the necessary reform process, the presidential election and on supporting the current investigations. “To restore public trust is a crucial objective. It is essential that Fifa carries on mission of developing the game” Hayatou said.
On the agenda, the executive committee will hear the first recommendations from Fifa’s reform committee with the aims of restoring it’s badly tarnished credibility. The increased need for transparency on renumeration is poised to be discussed, but the backdrop remains the power struggle ahead of the election on February 26.
( Source : AFP )
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