FIFA faces backlash as corruption reforms roll back

FIFA is set to hold a three-day meeting in Bangkok to address governance standards and future soccer events, with a focus on rolling back reforms implemented after the 2015 corruption scandal. Key decisions include changes to presidential powers, committee expansions, and the hosting of future World Cups, while criticisms about commitment to reform persist.

FIFA Faces Backlash as Corruption Reforms Roll Back

In Bangkok, FIFA is set to conduct a three-day meeting from May 15-17, 2024, focusing on governance standards and future soccer events. Key issues include the rollback of reforms instituted after the 2015 corruption scandal and decisions on women's soccer development and anti-racism measures.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA's president since 2016, originally championed reforms including term limits and reduced presidential powers. However, recent proposals seek to expand committees, increase presidential authority, and remove term limits within the Asian Football Confederation. This shift comes despite criticisms and previous endorsements of strict governance by the U.S. Department of Justice, which now denies endorsing FIFA’s reform effectiveness.

Decisions during the congress will also include hosting future men's and women's World Cups, with Saudi Arabia expected to host the 2034 event. Specific decisions regarding women's soccer, including the 2027 World Cup host, are anticipated. As FIFA navigates these changes, the organization's commitment to the reforms promised in 2015 is under scrutiny.

Photographs from Kent Nishimura/Getty Images, Norberto Duarte/AFP/Getty Images, and Harold Cunningham/FIFA via Getty Images respectively capture moments involving Infantino and key FIFA meetings.