FIFA "is set to amend its World Cup bidding rules in an attempt to stop countries touting for votes by investing in football development projects around the world," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. It will also "introduce a requirement forcing bidding nations to comply with United Nations standards on labour laws and human rights."
The chaotic dual race for the '18 and '22 tournaments, won by Russia and Qatar, respectively, "was accompanied by claims of collusion and bribes." A clause requiring bidding nations, which included England for '18 and the U.S. for '22, "to invest in football programmes overseas has been removed after belated recognition that this was virtually an invitation to corruption."
England and Australia "were among the bidders criticised for pouring money into football programmes in the Caribbean." The '26 process, "paused in the wake of the crisis" that gripped FIFA after the arrest of seven senior execs in Zurich in May, "will also include a clause that forces bidders to comply with UN standards on labour law and human rights." Potential bidders include the U.S., Mexico and Canada (GUARDIAN, 7/16). In London, Moore & Sanderson reported the changes are understood "to have been agreed" by top FIFA officials. It "had already been agreed that the next World Cup host would be decided by open ballot" among FIFA’s 209-strong congress. Other key reform proposals "to be put to an executive committee meeting on Monday remain in the balance, among them term limits on football officials." Sepp Blatter was elected to a fifth term as FIFA president in May but resigned shortly afterward.
A person close to FIFA said, "We know what ought to be done but for whatever reason we are struggling to get there. The most important reform is the term limits."
Other proposals include revealing the salaries of FIFA’s leaders, the election of the exec committee by the congress rather than by the continental confederations and integrity checks on new members (FT, 7/16).
