On governance, compliance and accountability
“The work that FIFA has done over recent years in reforming its governance and auditing structures has ensured that the organisation is in a strong financial position and (is) therefore able to implement this plan. By providing the best possible financial support to member associations and confederations, the Steering Committee and FIFA administration, FIFA is also committed to implementing the highest compliance and auditing standards,” Mr Rehn explained.
With the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan Steering Committee comprising three members, with Mr Rehn as chairman and supported by Molly Rhone from Jamaica and Muhannad Hamad from Bahrain, the group has retained a global dimension, and it maintains the necessary levels of transparency and accountability with regard to the management of funds.
“Every single member association and confederation that receives funding from FIFA will be audited – in fact, audited twice: once by the auditors sent by FIFA under the current system (of central reviews) and once by (their own) statutory auditors,” Mr Rehn confirmed. “The implementation of the COVID-19 relief plan is an ongoing process and so far we have received applications from over 150 member associations. The steering committee is working hand in hand with the FIFA administration in order to oversee the implementation of the relief plan and (to help achieve the right social and economic) impact to support football.”
Examples of where the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan is already working
“If you look at Thailand, they are using funds to resume its national league, including COVID-19 tests and starting the use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee),” Mr Rehn added. “Mexico is using FIFA funding of 1.5 million USD for its women’s league, while Brazil is using the funding to support purchasing COVID-19 tests for their women’s league, and in Uruguay the payment will be used to ensure that staff members at the member association who were let go can be rehired, allowing the member association to operate. These are some examples and ultimately the benefits will be seen in the long term, because the relief plan is to enable clubs and member associations to overcome the current crisis and work towards the future.”