FIFA Audit & Compliance Chair Domenico Scala "resigned in protest against a power grab" by FIFA President Gianni Infantino over control of independent panels that monitor the governing body, according to Graham Dunbar of the London INDEPENDENT. Scala's walkout on Saturday "followed claims of tension between the two men over Infantino's salary." It "marks a first major challenge to the integrity of Infantino's presidency since he was elected to succeed Sepp Blatter in February." Scala, who has monitored FIFA's billion-dollar annual spending since '12, described his resignation as a “wake-up call” for people working to reform the body. Tensions between the two Swiss-Italian men "were exposed" at FIFA's annual congress in Mexico City. Member federations "voted in new powers to Infantino's ruling council to fire Scala and ethics committee leaders who investigate corruption claims." Citing Friday's move, Scala said in a resignation statement, "I am consternated about this decision because it undermines a central pillar of the good governance of Fifa, and it destroys a substantial achievement of the reforms." In a speech on Friday, Infantino declared FIFA's "corruption-fueled crisis to be over." Infantino later "defended his new powers to remove key people overseeing his work." The tactic was criticized by former FIFA anti-corruption adviser Mark Pieth, "who helped bring Scala, then a pharmaceutical industry executive," to FIFA four years ago. Pieth said, "[Infantino] is actually exactly working like [Michel] Platini and Blatter. We desperately want to go beyond that now." Pieth suggested that Infantino "disagreed over a salary offer" of 2M Swiss francs ($2.05M) made by a three-member FIFA remuneration panel headed by Scala. Pieth said, "It is personal, it is very clear. He wants more than the 2 million that Domenico is offering him" (INDEPENDENT, 5/14). REUTERS' Brian Homewood wrote Scala "played a big role in implementing reforms aimed at avoiding a repeat of the corruption scandal" that has seen 42 football officials and entities indicted in the U.S. Scala: "It will henceforth be possible for the Council to impede investigations against single members at any time, by dismissing the responsible Committee members or by keeping them acquiescent through the threat of a dismissal." FIFA said that "it was intended to allow the Council to appoint new members while the system of committees was re-structured over the course of the next year." FIFA said, "FIFA regrets that Mr Scala has misinterpreted the purpose of the decision taken by the FIFA Congress." It added that the ruling would allow "for the swift removal of members who have breached their obligations." Eckert and Borbely, in a joint statement, said that "the move would not have any impact on their work." The statement said, "Both chambers will continue to exercise this work in full independence" (REUTERS, 5/14). BLOOMBERG's Strobl & Panja wrote FIFA accepted Scala’s resignation Saturday morning, calling his claims “baseless.” The new powers were granted to more easily fill vacancies and swiftly remove members who have “breached their obligations.” FIFA said that Scala’s deputy, Sindi Mabaso Koyana, "will serve as acting chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee until a replacement is found" (BLOOMBERG, 5/14).
NEW HIRE: In London, Murad Ahmed wrote FIFA appointed Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as its new secretary-general, "selecting an African woman for a role that confers unprecedented power within world football’s governing body following a damaging corruption scandal." Samoura, from Senegal, is a 21-year veteran of UN programs across Africa. She "was appointed to the role" by FIFA execs during a meeting in Mexico City on Friday. Her move "signals another significant change at the organisation, which had pushed through reforms this year aimed at enhancing the role of women, as well as placing more power with the secretary-general and away from its president." Under the changes, the new president "would have more of a strategic or figurehead role than his predecessors, while the secretary-general would have enhanced responsibilities for the day-to-day running of the organisation." Infantino: "Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time." Samoura said, "FIFA is taking a fresh approach to its work -- and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible." Blatter was heavily criticized in '04 by female footballers after he suggested the women's’ game would attract more attention if players wore "tighter shorts" to promote "a more female aesthetic." Under FIFA’s reforms, women "gained greater representation" on the organization’s committees.
FIFA's exec committee, which has been stripped of responsibilities for operational and commercial activities, has also been renamed the "FIFA council" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/13).
