The two FIFA ethics execs "responsible for banning some of the sport's most prominent figures following a corruption scandal face an uncertain future and may not have their mandates renewed," sources said, according to Miller & Homewood of REUTERS. The sources said that "a change of personnel could lead to a two-year delay in ongoing investigations as the new incumbents would have to familiarize themselves with both the ethics committee set up and the cases themselves." The mandates of Cornel Borbely, a Swiss attorney who heads the investigatory division of the ethics committee, and Hans-Joachim Eckert, a German judge who heads the adjudicatory chamber, expire in May. The sources added that "neither have so far been invited to the next FIFA Congress on May 11 in Bahrain, where their mandates would be extended for another four years." FIFA would not comment directly on whether Borbely and Eckert would be nominated for reappointment, saying in a statement that "the continental confederations had been asked to put forward names." Sources said that Borbely and Eckert "wanted to continue." Under FIFA statutes, they are each entitled to two further four-year mandates (REUTERS, 3/15).
PENSION CUTS: The AP reported FIFA is reviewing payment and pension deals for FIFA Council members, who "could see their $300,000 annual stipends cut." The payment review follows FIFA "cost-cutting" in the first year of President Gianni Infantino's rule, and "ahead of an expected loss to be reported" for '16. The current $300,000 FIFA Council stipend, plus daily expenses, "was agreed under the previous FIFA leadership and before the ruling panel was expanded to 37 members with fewer meetings." Members also now have "fewer other committee duties" (AP, 3/14).
CAF ELECTION: REUTERS' Mark Gleeson reported Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou will "face a rare challenge" on Thursday as he stands for an eighth term at the helm of the African game when CAF holds its Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Madagascar FA President Ahmad Ahmad will contest Thursday's vote and is "only the third challenger Hayatou has faced since he became CAF president" in '88. The 70-year-old Hayatou, who also serves as FIFA’s SVP and is from Cameroon, "promises continuity while Ahmad says it is time for change" (REUTERS, 3/15).
