SFA welcome proposed changes at FIFA

Despite not wishing to vote Sepp Blatter back in as FIFA President the SFA are happy with the concessions he has made with regard to the future Ethics committee

Stewart Regan, Scottish FA Chief Executive released a statement today which said, "The Scottish FA is encouraged by the promise of a more transparent and inclusive approach to future governance made by FIFA at its Congress in Zurich today.

"While we accept and understand that the FIFA statutes allowed for the election of a single Presidential candidate, our request for a postponement was made primarily to enable a line to be drawn under the speculation and accusations that clouded the Congress and undermined the election process.

"Having requested a wholly independent Ethics Committee, we are pleased that, as a first step, the chairman of the committee will, in future, be elected by the Congress, along with the appointment of designated independent individuals to the committee.

"We are also in agreement with the promise that a Solutions Committee be formed to examine corporate governance and recommend changes.

"Moreover, we are satisfied with the announcement on the major change to how World Cup host nations will be chosen.

"In the interests of openness and transparency, and also to protect the integrity of the Executive Committee members, the decision to alter the selection process to a vote from all 208 member associations, rather than the 24-man ExCo, is a positive step.

"We must all now work hard together to improve the image and reputation of the world game, which has been damaged by the recent events. Indeed, at next Tuesday’s AGM, the Scottish FA will have its own opportunity to approve the most radical changes in its 138-year history.”

This does seem a bit of a turn about after the statement released yesterday, but at least the SFA didn’t sanction the re-election of the President by abstaining. This wasn’t enough to keep him out of office with a huge majority still voting him in.

It will be interesting if the promised changes at both FIFA and the SFA come to fruition and we see the transparency that all have claimed to deliver.