An international legal expert Adedotun Olusanya unveiled a series of transformative proposals aimed at overhauling FIFA’s governance structure.
In a recent interview on the Nigerian Television Authority’s (NTA) sports program, Olusanya examined ambitious plans to address corruption and enhance accountability within the global football governing body.
On Olusanya’s Esq proposal for a unified legal framework for enforcing CAS award, he began by highlighting the challenges in enforcing Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) awards against FIFA officials and member associations.
He pointed out that the current system struggles with enforcing monetary awards or asset seizures due to the inapplicability of the New York Convention on arbitral awards enforcement. To counter this, Olusanya proposed a sui generis FIFA treaty.
“This treaty would require FIFA member countries to recognize and enforce CAS awards as a condition of membership, creating a unified legal framework for enforcement across all jurisdictions,” he explained.
His second proposition was a tiered system for corruption investigation. Addressing the issue of corruption, Olusanya suggested a tiered system for investigating allegations within FIFA. He proposed that FIFA’s Ethics Commission be given a two-month window to investigate and conclude any hearings. If they fail, sovereign states could request extradition through CAS. “This system ensures that allegations don’t simply disappear and creates multiple layers of accountability,” Olusanya noted.
Olusanya followed this with another important suggestion which requires unlimited punitive fines to ensure deterence. In a bid to deter corruption, Olusanya recommended that FIFA modify its laws to include unlimited punitive fines. “Individuals found guilty of corruption could be fined three to ten times the amount of bribes received,” he stated, emphasizing that this would serve as a stronger deterrent and help recover misappropriated funds.
When the host, Ayodeji Ogunsakin quizzed him about the challenges that he anticipates about his proposals as well as optimism, Olusanya acknowledged the challenges in implementing these reforms, particularly resistance to change and the complexity of harmonizing the system across different legal jurisdictions. However, he expressed cautious optimism, citing recent steps taken by FIFA towards transparency, such as publishing non-confidential CAS awards on its website. “The key is to find a balance that preserves the specificity of sport while ensuring FIFA is accountable to its global stakeholders,” he concluded..
As the interview wrapped up, Olusanya reiterated his belief that the mounting pressure from various stakeholders, including governments, sponsors, and the public, would continue to push FIFA towards meaningful reform. “It’s a complex challenge, but one that’s crucial for the future integrity of global football,” he affirmed.
The interview with Adedotun Olusanya provided a comprehensive overview of the proposed reforms and the potential impact on FIFA’s governance. As the global football community continues to grapple with issues of corruption and accountability, Olusanya’s insights serve as a critical contribution to the ongoing dialogue on how to ensure the integrity and fairness of the sport.
Source: Daily Times Nigeria