Doc. 12673

29 June 2011

More transparency and accountability at FIFA

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Omtzigt and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has become a major player in the international political and economic arena.

The economic interests of organising a tournament like the World Cup are huge. In such an organisation ethical standards should be beyond reproach, democratic control should be high and limits should be put in place on the terms of office of executive positions.

A number of accusations on the organisation’s internal elections were not dealt with in an open manner, and accusations of bribery gained credibility with accusations of vote buying linked to the awards of tournaments. This sad reality has not been elucidated thoroughly.

At the elite level, the organisation of a football tournament has become a state within a state with sweeping tax exemptions. The organising committee appears to be in receipt of candidate promises to suppress a number of laws and to avail of tax exemptions. These agreements are completely non-transparent.

A positive code based on fair play has been written for the football game. A similar code should be considered for that game’s governing body FIFA.

The Parliamentary Assembly resolves to investigate these issues.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed 1:

OMTZIGT Pieter, Netherlands, EPP/CD

COMMERCIO Roberto Mario Sergio, Italy, EPP/CD

DOZZO Gianpaolo, Italy, EDG

FERNÁNDEZ-CAPEL BAŃOS Blanca, Spain, EPP/CD

FRANSSEN Cindy, Belgium, EPP/CD

GALATI Giuseppe, Italy, EPP/CD

HANCOCK Mike, United Kingdom, ALDE

HOSTALIER Françoise, France, EPP/CD

KALMÁR Ferenc, Hungary, EPP/CD

KOSZORÚS László, Hungary, EPP/CD

MAYER Edgar, Austria, EPP/CD

NESSA Pasquale, Italy, EPP/CD

NEUGEBAUER Fritz, Austria, EPP/CD

OSCARSSON Mikael, Sweden, EPP/CD

STUCCHI Giacomo, Italy, EDG

SZÉKYNÉ SZTRÉMI Melinda, Hungary, EPP/CD

TOFANI Oreste, Italy, EPP/CD

VEJKEY Imre, Hungary, EPP/CD

VITALI Luigi, Italy, EPP/CD

WALTER Robert, United Kingdom, EDG

ZACCHERA Marco, Italy, EDG

1        EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      SOC: Socialist Group

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group