FIFA unveil final reform plan amid new scandals

A journalist walks in front of FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland December 2, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

ZURICH -- The Federation International Football Association (FIFA) executive committee on Thursday unanimously approved a set of reform proposals, after two FIFA high-ranking officials arrested earlier the day.

Ahead of the two-day executive committee meeting to wrap up on Thursday afternoon, focused on the hammer down the final reform plans, FIFA vice-president Alfredo Hawit and president of the South American Football Confederation Juan Angel Napout were arrested in a luxury hotel before dawn.

At the same hotel, Swiss police arrested seven FIFA officials in May, kicking off the comprehensive investigation against FIFA.

According to the Swiss Federal Office of Justice, the two officials are suspected of accepting bribes of millions of dollars for selling marketing rights in connection with football tournaments in Latin America, as well as World Cup qualifying matches.

The two officials are currently in custody pending extradition. However, FIFA unveiled the reform plan despite the new scandal.

The new proposal will impose maximum term limits of three terms of four years for the FIFA President as well as all members of the FIFA Council, the Audit and Compliance Committee and the judicial bodies.

In terms of clear separation of political and management functions, the FIFA Council (replacing the FIFA Executive Committee) will be responsible for setting the organisation's overall strategic direction, while the general secretariat will oversee the operational and commercial actions required to effectively execute that strategy.