FIFA: Independent audit committee chairman quits over reforms

He pointed out that this ``undermines a central pillar of the good governance of FIFA and destroys a substantial achievement of the reforms’’.

FIFA president, Infantino says Fatma is a woman with international experience (Getty Images )

Domenico Scala, FIFA’s head of Auditing and Compliance, on Saturday resigned in protest at reforms at the world football ruling body.

Scala was angry the newly-created FIFA Council would have the ability to appoint and sack those in charge of its committees, including Auditing, Ethics and Finance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Council replaced the FIFA Executive Committee in the aftermath of a corruption scandal at the organisation.

``Committees have been deprived of their independence,’’ Scala said while quitting.

The Swiss added it would now be possible for the Council to ``impede’’ investigations by either dismissing committee members or
``through the threat of a dismissal’’.

He pointed out that this ``undermines a central pillar of the good governance of FIFA and destroys a substantial achievement of the reforms’’.

Scala has played a key role in pushing through reforms after the scandals which prompted the departures of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart, Michel Platini.

Blatter, who led FIFA since 1998, stood down last year and was later suspended from football for six years for breaching ethics guidelines.

Platini announced earlier this week he would be stepping down after failing to have a six-year ban from football overturned by a Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) panel.

The first FIFA congress led by new president Gianni Infantino, who succeeded Blatter in February, took place in Mexico City on Thursday and Friday.

During the congress, FIFA elected its first female secretary general with the appointment of Senegal’s Fatma Samoura.

She succeeds Jerome Valcke, who in February was banned from football-related activities for 12 years.