Statements

ICSS Statement on Transparency International Report

Following the release of a report compiled by Transparency International entitled “International Football Governance League Table “ the International Centre for Sport Security released the following statement:

The report released by Transparency International is a damning indictment on financial transparency in football.

Their research shows that less than 20% of national football federations make their financial records publicly available. Even less publish activity reports which should include what they have achieved from spending significant monies received from FIFA, their respective Confederation, and in many cases the national and state monies provided to them to promote and develop football in their respective countries.

Equally alarming is that only two out of six Confederations make their financial records publicly available.

This is a solid and timely examination by Transparency International of the level of financial and functional transparency present in the global matrix of football governance from FIFA through to regional Confederations and finally to national football associations. It will be a good guide to the massive fundamental governance gaps in wider football.

The ICSS congratulates Transparency International on today’s release of their football governance league table, on the very day that the FIFA Reform Committee under Francois Carrard meets in Zurich. The ICSS has been active in promoting and gathering support for transparency in the governance of sport and the wider sport industry

Chris Eaton, the Executive Director for Sport Integrity at the ICSS said that “While the world focuses on FIFA in football, Transparency International reminds us all that FIFA is absolutely not all of football, and simply that all of football needs governance reform, not just FIFA.”

“We would expect that the FIFA Reform Committee will not only consider the Transparency International table on football governance, but also consider what options FIFA realistically has to direct and manage not only reform of itself, but of Confederations and National Associations. This is a critical question. Even though we do not yet have a detailed blueprint of FIFA reform, the very fact that reform is necessary extends well beyond FIFA in football governance, and ultimately even beyond Transparency International examination, to Leagues and Clubs.”

Emanuel de Medeiros, CEO of ICSS EUROPE said: “The Transparency International report is a timely reminder of how absolutely enormous are the transparency gaps in football administration and how critical wider reforms are to those administrations. Since November 2014, the ICSS has been identifying through the its Financial Integrity and Transparency in Sport (FITS) Global Project the most critical threats and developing the most adequate solutions to ensure the highest standards in terms of good governance, financial integrity and accountability in sport. The release of this critical report and its much needed recommendations will take place in early 2016.”