Football: ‘FIFA needs to reform’

Britain sports minister calls for urgent reform of Fifa World Cup bidding process.

LONDON: Britain sports minister Hugh Robertson has called for urgent reform of the Fifa World Cup bidding process after fresh corruption allegations emerged against the global football body.

Robertson, speaking after former England 2018 chairman Lord David Triesman accused Fifa voters of “unethical” conduct, said the organisation needs to follow the example of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Leaving Fifa is not on the agenda but all effort at government level is on trying to get reform at Fifa,” said Robertson. “They need to have a look at what the IOC did after the Salt Lake City scandal. Three cities are bidding to host the Winter Olympics, and there’s not a suggestion that this is anything other than a fair contest. Fifa needs get into that position.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2011.