The general secretary of the world players' union FIFPro has blasted FIFA, saying the sport is ruled by "people who aren't interested in the game" and that footballers must be involved in a reformed organisation. Announcing a series of initiatives around union representation for women, Theo van Seggelen said on Friday that change at football's ruling body FIFA, which has been rocked by a series of corruption scandals, had to include the players.
"This game is still very conservative, it is out of touch and it repeatedly fails to administer its responsibility," the Dutchman explained.
"The football governance structure, widely condemned in these times of crisis and corruption, does not provide adequate room for the relevant stakeholders to take decisions that effect them.
"One of the keys to help solve this, I think, are the players. The players are central to what a reformed governance model would look like to provide the checks and balance that are desperately needed," added Van Seggelen.
"There is no balance at all. We are governed by people who are not interested in the game at all, unfortunately I have a lot of examples."
Van Seggelen said the efforts of women to exert more influence on football was a key part of the transformation he wanted to see in the game's administration.
‘I think women can become a driving force’
"Players, fans, coaches, referees, all of us demand a game to be proud of," he added ahead of Sunday's Women's World Cup final in Vancouver between the United States and holders Japan.
"I think women can become a driving force with this. The fight for respect and recognition as a very important stakeholder is one we all share because that is what football is crying out for right across the board."
FIFPro said they were now allowing women, in countries where there is no local union, to join their organisation in order to receive representation and to protect their rights.
Former Sweden goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson, who is spearheading FIFPro's global women's outreach effort, told Reuters there was a clear need for more diversity at the top of the game.
"This is an opportunity to say, 'We want this'. Of course it is an opportunity for change," she explained.
"You have dictatorships falling in countries where people said there would never be change. FIFA isn't that but if countries can change why wouldn't FIFA be able to change? It is up to the member associations."
FIFA's Webb charged in Cayman Island's corruption case-media
Suspended FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, already facing charges in soccer's global bribery scandal, has now been charged in a healthcare fraud case in his native Cayman Islands, local media reported on Friday.
EXPOSED! FIFA scandal stinks up the Caribbean
Cayman authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Webb and are expected to seek his extradition, reported Cayman 27 television.
Webb is currently detained in Switzerland after being arrested and indicted by the FBI last month and already faces an extradition request from the United States in relation to the soccer corruption charges brought by the Department of Justice.
Webb was one of seven powerful figures arrested in Zurich on May 27 two days before FIFA's annual congress, stunning world soccer. The charges by US prosecutors include allegations that millions of dollars were paid in bribes in FIFA's selection process to host men's World Cups and other major tournaments.
Webb's close associate Canover Watson, also a football official in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean Football Union, was arrested last year on five charges including fraud, money-laundering relating to the CarePay card swipe payment system at the Cayman Health Services Authority. "The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission can confirm that in connection with the ongoing investigation into the CarePay project, further charges have today been laid at Court in relation to Canover Watson, Jeffrey Webb and Miriam Rodriguez," said a Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission statememt, according to Cayman 27 television station's website.
"A warrant for Mr. Webb’s arrest has today been issued. We understand that he is currently being detained by the authorities in Switzerland. It is anticipated that proceedings will be instigated for his extradition to answer these charges,” the statement added. The report said that Webb faces two charges of conspiracy to defraud and one charge of breach of trust, as well as ‘conspiracy to convert criminal property’.
The 50-year-old Webb was elected as head of CONCACAF, the confederation governing the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean, in 2012. Before the FIFA scandal he was viewed as a potential successor to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
The Cayman Islands Anti Corruption Commission did not immediately respond when contacted for comment.
