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Fifa could face challenge by British government under new bill Fifa could face challenge by British government under new bill
(3 months later)
The British government would have the power to challenge Fifa under a wide-ranging new sports governance bill to be proposed by former British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan.The British government would have the power to challenge Fifa under a wide-ranging new sports governance bill to be proposed by former British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan.
The former Tory sports minister will introduce a private members bill in the Lords on Wednesday that he hopes will catalyse debate on a range of fronts before the next election and feed into the manifestos of the main political parties. The former Tory sports minister will introduce a private members bill in the Lords on Wednesday that he hopes will catalyse debate on a range of fronts before the next election and feed into the manifestos of the main political parties.
Fifa is again mired in controversy on the eve of the Brazil World Cup, with domestic protesters focusing on its demands and finances, while bribery allegations swirl around the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar.Fifa is again mired in controversy on the eve of the Brazil World Cup, with domestic protesters focusing on its demands and finances, while bribery allegations swirl around the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar.
“The bill would allow the secretary of state [for culture, media and sport] to challenge Fifa. If every country followed this line, very swiftly Fifa would respond,” Moynihan said. “Over the next 20 years, the governance, transparency and accountability of international sport will be even more of an issue. There are billions of pounds in sport and we’ve got to put in place mechanisms that match that investment.”“The bill would allow the secretary of state [for culture, media and sport] to challenge Fifa. If every country followed this line, very swiftly Fifa would respond,” Moynihan said. “Over the next 20 years, the governance, transparency and accountability of international sport will be even more of an issue. There are billions of pounds in sport and we’ve got to put in place mechanisms that match that investment.”
Moynihan argues that a single sport governance bill would provide a vehicle to solve some of the more intractable debates surrounding sport in Britain.Moynihan argues that a single sport governance bill would provide a vehicle to solve some of the more intractable debates surrounding sport in Britain.
“Only by demonstrating good governance in sport can government and British sports administrators use their influence internationally,” he said. “Only through the introduction of best governance among international bodies and federations will the problems that have already beset many of the international organisations – from Fifa today, to the IOC in Salt Lake City in 2002, and to Formula One over recent years – be consigned to history.”“Only by demonstrating good governance in sport can government and British sports administrators use their influence internationally,” he said. “Only through the introduction of best governance among international bodies and federations will the problems that have already beset many of the international organisations – from Fifa today, to the IOC in Salt Lake City in 2002, and to Formula One over recent years – be consigned to history.”
While many politicians have lamented the lack of oversight of Fifa and other global governing bodies, there is no mechanism to force change.While many politicians have lamented the lack of oversight of Fifa and other global governing bodies, there is no mechanism to force change.
Among the other practical benefits of the bill as proposed by Moynihan would be the ability of the government to force golf clubs to admit women members, a presumption towards equality of prize money, further protection for school playing fields and a number of measures to “put the interests of athletes at the heart of sports policy”.Among the other practical benefits of the bill as proposed by Moynihan would be the ability of the government to force golf clubs to admit women members, a presumption towards equality of prize money, further protection for school playing fields and a number of measures to “put the interests of athletes at the heart of sports policy”.
In return, government would have to submit to a number of statutory requirements to prove it was taking sport seriously. The health and education secretaries would have to place annual reports before parliament on how they were furthering the public health and school sport agendas and the introduction of new legislation relating to match-fixing.In return, government would have to submit to a number of statutory requirements to prove it was taking sport seriously. The health and education secretaries would have to place annual reports before parliament on how they were furthering the public health and school sport agendas and the introduction of new legislation relating to match-fixing.
While arguing government had no role in the “specificity of sport” – its rules and regulations on the pitch – Moynihan said that its increased commercialisation and its importance to the public meant that a new bill was overdue. He will tell the Lords that “the need for good governance in sport to match that required for FTSE companies is essential if we are to protect the interests of athletes in the future”.While arguing government had no role in the “specificity of sport” – its rules and regulations on the pitch – Moynihan said that its increased commercialisation and its importance to the public meant that a new bill was overdue. He will tell the Lords that “the need for good governance in sport to match that required for FTSE companies is essential if we are to protect the interests of athletes in the future”.
Other measures covered by the proposed bill include more investment in cycle safety and a merger of the quangos Sport England and UK Sport into a new body called Sport 2022 to deliver on the legacy and regeneration promises made to secure the London Olympics, and laws to give sports bodies more flexibility in how they use their commercial rights.Other measures covered by the proposed bill include more investment in cycle safety and a merger of the quangos Sport England and UK Sport into a new body called Sport 2022 to deliver on the legacy and regeneration promises made to secure the London Olympics, and laws to give sports bodies more flexibility in how they use their commercial rights.
Among the more potentially controversial proposals is a suggestion that football and other sports should be granted a certain number of visas for overseas talent but that if they were not used they could be traded for a “considerable” consideration. The plan, believes Moynihan, would help address the lack of homegrown talent coming through the system to elite level.Among the more potentially controversial proposals is a suggestion that football and other sports should be granted a certain number of visas for overseas talent but that if they were not used they could be traded for a “considerable” consideration. The plan, believes Moynihan, would help address the lack of homegrown talent coming through the system to elite level.