FIFA is set to create "dozens of new committees and expert panels," reversing a governance reform passed in 2016 when the world soccer body was "in turmoil during corruption scandals." FIFA's plan to increase its number of standing committees from seven to 35 -- with the option to let FIFA President Gianni Infantino "create and appoint extra panels of experts" -- was "detailed in a draft update of its legal statutes" released late yesterday. Creating the new bodies "could let FIFA award hundreds of expenses-paid committee seats to soccer officials worldwide" who will vote on the new rules at a May 17 meeting in Thailand. The new slate of committees includes a dedicated "Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee" (AP, 4/18).
Meanwhile, talks on "throwing Israel out of world football" over its response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks are to be held at the FIFA meeting next month. The Palestine Football Association has submitted a proposal for inclusion on the agenda to "address what it branded actions that represented 'an existential threat tantamount to genocide.'" The proposal, which is "not currently due to be put to a vote," was backed by the FAs of Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Yemen. FIFA and UEFA "have so far resisted calls" to ban Israel from tournaments such as the World Cup and European Championship (London TELEGRAPH, 4/18).
