FIFA Council
FIFA announced a new set of statutes on the day following the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress. These changes transformed the old Executive Committee into the modern FIFA Council. The transformation granted the body more power and a completely new structure. All existing members stayed in their roles until they faced re-election at their respective confederations. A total of 37 new members took office on the 30th of September 2016. This date marked the official start of the council before the 2016 Ordinary FIFA congress began. The Secretary General now reports directly to this new council. They work alongside a Chief Compliance Officer who monitors the organization's daily operations.
The President leads the thirty-seven member council that was established in late 2016. CONMEBOL receives one vice-president and four members within this group. AFC gains one vice-president and six seats for its representation. UEFA holds three vice-presidents and six additional members. CAF secures one vice-president and six members. CONCACAF takes one vice-president and four members. OFC gets one vice-president and two members. Each member casts one vote during committee meetings. The President possesses a casting vote if the original count ends in a tie. Gianni Infantino serves as the current President of this body. Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa acts as the Vice-President for the Asian Football Confederation.
The term of office lasts exactly four years for all elected officials. Members can be re-appointed by their confederations after serving their initial period. Re-installation requires approval from the Congress for another four-year stretch. All candidates must pass an integrity check before they can take office. Integrity checks for vice-presidents are conducted by their own confederations. The President undergoes scrutiny by the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee. A second integrity check occurs before any member seeks re-election. No candidate may serve as a delegate for their association while on the committee. Only one representative per country's football association is allowed to serve. The council meets at least twice every calendar year.
György Szepesi chaired the Executive Committee from 1982 until 1994. Between 1947 and 2013, rules required one vice-president to come from a British association. This guaranteed position was officially removed by FIFA in 2013. UEFA unofficially maintained this tradition by nominating only British candidates for vacancies. The final meeting of the old Executive Committee took place on the 18th of March 2016. Before 2015, the body included eight vice-presidents and fifteen members appointed by associations. One female member was elected directly by the Congress during that era. Two more women were co-opted into the committee for one-year periods in 2013 and again in 2014.
Reynald Temarii received a one-year ban in November 2010 for code violations. Amos Adamu faced a three-year suspension for similar breaches. Temarii paid a fine of 5,000 Swiss Francs while Adamu paid 10,000 Swiss Francs. A sting operation by The Sunday Times exposed these actions. On the 25th of May 2011, Chuck Blazer reported Mohammed bin Hammam and Jack Warner to the Ethics Committee. They claimed these men offered bribes at a Caribbean Football Union meeting. Fourteen top officials including executive members were arrested in Switzerland on the 27th of May 2015. David Gill threatened to resign if Sepp Blatter won a fifth term as President. Blatter announced his resignation four days after Gill rejected his position.
Common questions
When did the FIFA Council officially start its operations?
The FIFA Council officially started on the 30th of September 2016. This date marked the beginning of the new body before the 2016 Ordinary FIFA congress began.
Who is the current President of the FIFA Council and who serves as Vice-President for Asia?
Gianni Infantino serves as the current President of this body. Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa acts as the Vice-President for the Asian Football Confederation.
How many members are in the FIFA Council and how often does it meet?
The council consists of thirty-seven members established in late 2016. The group meets at least twice every calendar year to conduct business.
What was the final meeting date of the old Executive Committee that preceded the FIFA Council?
The final meeting of the old Executive Committee took place on the 18th of March 2016. This event occurred just months before the transformation into the modern FIFA Council.
Why were Chuck Blazer and Mohammed bin Hammam investigated by the Ethics Committee?
Chuck Blazer reported Mohammed bin Hammam and Jack Warner to the Ethics Committee on the 25th of May 2011. They claimed these men offered bribes at a Caribbean Football Union meeting.