Former Blatter aide Champagne sets out reform plan

Former Blatter aide Champagne sets out reform plan

Published Jan. 17, 2012 8:20 p.m. ET

Former FIFA presidential adviser Jerome Champagne has proposed his own manifesto for how world football's governing body can modernize itself and prevent more corruption scandals.

Champagne left FIFA unexpectedly two years ago, but sent his proposals to 208 national football associations ahead of a FIFA-appointed panel meeting for the first time on Thursday as part of President Sepp Blatter's anti-corruption reforms.

The French former diplomat created the manifesto on his own initiative, saying his scandal-hit former employer faces ''a severe crisis'' because of corruption allegations.

''It would be ridiculous for me to say that everything is correct,'' Champagne said in a telephone interview Tuesday. ''But if we want to really have a strong governance of the game ... we need a strong FIFA.

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''I want FIFA to be relevant in the 21st century, but we can't govern football the way that we did in the first 150 years.''

Champagne's intervention is likely to be viewed as an early indicator that he is interested in succeeding Blatter, who has promised to step down in 2015, but he insisted he's only trying to help.

''I am only a citizen of world football,'' he said. ''I put my contribution on the table. How it will be implemented or discussed for the moment is not the debate.''

Champagne's vision includes giving the FIFA president more power to enact his agenda, and giving a bigger democratic voice to national associations, clubs, leagues and players.

He called for a fairer spread of wealth, and suggested football's future worldwide is ''jeopardized'' by the global popularity of Europe's top leagues.

The 25-page proposal is a direct appeal to FIFA and national bodies while effectively bypassing football's six continental confederations.

''I propose restoring the central position of (Football Associations) because the FAs are the legitimate representatives of football on a national basis,'' Champagne said.

Troubled relations with confederations were reportedly a factor in Champagne leaving FIFA after 11 years' service in January 2010.

Before entering football, Champagne's diplomatic postings included four years in Los Angeles as deputy consul-general. He worked as protocol chief when France hosted the 1998 World Cup, then joined FIFA soon after Blatter was elected.

As international relations director, Champagne's work was acclaimed yet reportedly angered some confederation presidents.

Two of those power brokers - Asia's Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner from CONCACAF - left FIFA last year when accused of election bribery during the Qatari candidate's failed bid to oust Blatter. One who remains, UEFA President Michel Platini, is regarded as the most likely successor to the 75-year-old Blatter.

Champagne, who declined to discuss his departure, expressed admiration for FIFA and his belief that football can ''help the world to be better.''

''I know that it (FIFA) is an organization that is dedicated to the game and ... you can see what we have achieved in these years,'' said Champagne, whose consultancy work with Palestinian officials has helped broker ongoing talks with Israel's Olympic committee.

To make FIFA's executive committee more effective, Champagne argues that the president should be elected on a ticket that includes a cabinet team of selected national FA presidents, giving a built-in majority on a larger ruling body.

Champagne also proposed a levy on international broadcast deals to create a football investment fund for poorer and smaller nations.

This could help correct a ''vicious circle'' in which Europe's leagues fueled ''a severe lack of balance in sport, economic and even cultural terms.''

''People love the English league, people love Barcelona - but we should see also what are the consequences of this love in terms of TV audiences and the impacts on local leagues. We need to find a balance,'' he said.

Champagne acknowledged that FIFA was at ''a crossroads'' as it sought to modernize and win respect.

Still, he declined comment on whether he would meet with FIFA's reform panel if invited by Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who heads the body.

''The timing was right and that's why I decided to do it now,'' Champagne said about his manifesto. ''Whatever will be done with this paper, we will see.''

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