Sepp Blatter: 'Our world is changing. FIFA must change'

Wednesday 11 Jun 2014
Sepp Blatter and the World Cup trophy at FIFA Congress

Greg Dyke led an FA delegation at the 64th FIFA Congress in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, as world football was discussed on the eve of the World Cup's opening game between Brazil and Croatia.

Dyke was joined by FA general secretary Alex Horne and UEFA executive committee member David Gill at the two-day event.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter opened Congress by telling the 209 members that "our world is changing, our game is changing. Our organistion must also change", in response to the ongoing discussion around the reform of FIFA, before being followed by Jose Maria Marin, the president of the CBF who welcomed the delegates to Brazil and the 2014 World Cup.

There then followed a period of reflection and tribute to those notable former players and officials who have passed away in the last year, including from England Dave Hickson, Stanley Lover, Bert Williams, Bill Foulkes, Sir Tom Finney, Peter Broadbent, Clive Clark and Stan Crowther among others.

As expected 79-year-old president Blatter confirmed his intention to run for a further four-year term at next year's presidential election, to be in held in Zurich.

Earlier the meeting had began with a report on the 2014 FIFA World Cup arrangements and was followed by financial statements, outlining FIFA's ongoing growth.

As part of the statement FIFA confirmed that each of the 209 national associations - including the not-for-profit FA - will receive an extra $750,000 [£446,000] bonus including a $500,000 sum from FIFA's World Cup incomes in 2014. 

Jeffrey Webb

CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb

 

The FA spends an average of £1m a week on grassroots football, more than any other body in England.

Importantly, FIFA Congress was presented with an update on a newly signed memorandum of understanding between Palestine and Israel in relation to ongoing matters affecting football in the region. 

This was then followed by an update from president of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb on the ongoing fight against discrimination and racism.

Webb updated on the meetings of the FIFA Task Force Against Racism and Discrimination and the development of an action plan and allocated resources, with recommendations for stricter application of sanctions and stronger prevention initiatives.

Webb said: "We must all work together... against all forms of discrimination.

" The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the perfect occasion to send a message to the world - football is for all."

FIFA also reiterated the need for world football to remain vigilant to the threat of match manipulation, as well as providing updates on refereeing matters and the growth of women's football.

Development funds for the women's game across the globe will double during the period 2015-18.

Finally the nations were presented an update on FIFA reforms based on past Congresses, including limits on age and terms of office for executive members and the work of FIFA's investigatory chamber.

The FA voted in favour of the principle of an age limit for FIFA officials as well as a term of office limit, however these principles were defeated in votes in the room.

The chair of the Ethics Committee's investigatory chamber Michael Garcia said: "We have been investigating the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. We have also reviewed tens of thousands of documents.

"We've reviewed the recent reports and the vast majority of material has been available to us for some time. We will review that data prior to issuing our final report."

By FA Staff