FIFA need to reform the crisis

A deepening crisis surrounding cash-for-votes scandals in both the FIFA presidential elections and recent World Cup bids has left soccer's world body reeling amid calls for the election to be postponed and for FIFA to be reformed, as incumbent Sepp Blatter prepares to enter a fourth term unopposed.

The English Football Association (FA) took the initiative on Tuesday, calling for the immediate postponement of FIFA's presidential election, scheduled for today, and for an independent review to reform the organization.

"First, to postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for president. Secondly, to appoint a genuinely independent external party to make recommendations regarding improved governance and compliance procedures and structures throughout the FIFA decision-making processes for consideration by the full membership," FA Chairman David Bernstein said on Tuesday, asking other national associations to support his calls.

The FA announced earlier this month that it would abstain from the election when there was still a contest between Blatter and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed bin Hamman, who has been suspended pending a probe into alleged bribery.

FIFA Vice President Jack Warner and Bin Hamman were provisionally suspended over bribery allegations Sunday with the latter withdrawing from today's presidential race.

The two were accused of paying $40,000 in bribes to Caribbean delegates to vote for Bin Hamman instead of Blatter in the race.

China's Zhang Jilong, deputy president of the AFC, has taken temporary charge of the Asian body since Monday, according to AFC rules following Bin Hammam's suspension.

The suspensions came weeks after allegations that several other members of FIFA's executive committee were involved in corruption during the voting process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. According to a private e-mail that was made public by Warner on Monday, Jerome Valcke, general secretary of FIFA, said Qatar had bought the rights to host the 2022 World Cup.

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