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FIFA's Ethics Committee Dilemma

FIFA was under investigation after accusations of corruption were brought up in the selection process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. Michael Garcia is the lead investigator in charge of this case. A 350 page report was issued by FIFA’s Ethics Committee in September which brought some insight into this investigation.

FIFA’s chief adjudicator, Hans-Joachim Eckert, announced that the report will not be published in it’s entirety. Due to legal reasons, an overview of this report will only be released in November. It is worth noting that Garcia and several other FIFA executive members urged this report should be available in full.

“Publishing the report in full would actually put the FIFA Ethics Committee and FIFA itself in a very difficult situation legally. What is more, we have to respect the personal rights of the people mentioned in the report, which in the case of full publication of the report would in all likelihood not be possible.” -Hans-Joachim Eckert (FIFA.com)

It is understandable that publishing the full report would cause problems. Legal issues can arise since individuals involved in this case would want his or her name left in confidentiality. It is the Ethics Committee’s duty to protect those who want to remain undisclosed, especially if a number of these people hold an important roles in the organization. Revealing the names of witnesses could be detrimental to his or her reputation.

Many people are pushing for transparency. Open communication is something FIFA does not excel in. This organization is constantly subjected towards corruption allegations. Bribery is a common topic brought up when dealing with corruption charges, such as the investigation associated with World Cup bids. Transparency removes barriers that can distort the perception of an organization. Once FIFA eliminates hidden agendas and practice greater ethical standards, it will then improve the identity of this organization.

Written by: Laxmi Patel