FIFA statement on Transparency International’s football governance report - FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE
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Following the publication by Transparency International of the report “The Transparency International football governance league table”, FIFA would like to make the following statement.
“FIFA is committed to reform, and to instituting best-practice standards of accountability, transparency and good governance. It also encourages member associations to work towards those same standards.
Additional measures to strengthen the member associations’ financial governance and management will be discussed at the upcoming FIFA Executive Committee meeting on 2-3 December 2015, including the obligation for the associations to publish their statutory annual reports and activity reports.
We note that Transparency International’s methodology for its report, which appears to consist of a search of internet pages, does not reflect the significant reporting that already exists at member association level and between member associations and FIFA.
Background
In accordance with the General Regulations for FIFA Development Programmes and FIFA circular no. 1469, member associations were responsible for providing FIFA, by 31 March 2015, with: an examination by an independent local auditor of the use of FIFA funds; their latest annual accounts; the corresponding statutory audit report presented to the general assembly; and the minutes of the general assembly. In addition, for each financial year, the FIFA general secretariat designates or randomly selects at least 20% of the member associations and the confederations for an examination to be performed by the FIFA statutory auditor (or another auditing firm appointed by FIFA). Subsequently, as at 18 November 2015, payments regarding FIFA development funds were blocked entirely or partially for 28 member associations.
In addition, FIFA already publishes comprehensive information concerning its development programmes. You can find detailed information on FIFA’s development activities – including Goal, FAP, technical activities and adidas Goal balls – as implemented in all 209 member associations in the respective country profile on FIFA.com (here is an example). An additional overview can be found on the FIFA Development Globe. Here you can find a fact sheet with overall figures for FAP, Goal, Performance, FIFA educational and technical activities, equipment for the member associations, financial support for confederations’ development programmes and other programmes.
Further information on the objectives behind FIFA’s development work and the recent reforms can be found in the following FAQ document.”