FIFA, GFA presidencies must have fixed tenure - Carl Tufuor

Celebrated football pundit, Carl Tuffuor, says a firm solution to the deep-seated corruption at FIFA would be for the world football governing body to set a fixed tenure for presidents.

He is also suggesting a fixed tenure for the President of the Ghana Football Association, which is currently held by Kwesi Nyantakyi.

“It’s got to the point where we need FIFA to start having [fixed tenure for its presidents] and by that implication, the same should apply to the [Ghana] FA”, he said on PM Express on the Joy News channel on Multi TV, Thursday.

He told show host, Nana Ansah Kwao IV, “the idea of FIFA having two terms is gaining a lot of currency and maybe by that it should also reflect in Ghana.”

According to Carl Tuffuor, a fixed term for presidents of both institutions would cut out the possibility influencing top executives, including the presidents themselves, through bribery during voting on important decisions – such as venues for the World Cup, in the case of FIFA.

Mr Tuffour was commenting the suspension on Thursday of FIFA longest-serving President, Sepp Blatter.

Mr Blatter, his vice and head of Europe’s soccer governing body Michel Platini, and Jérôme Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general have been suspended by Swiss authorities amid a corruption investigation.

CAF President, Issa Hayatou and Spain’s Angel Maria Villar have since taken over as interim heads of FIFA and UEFA respectively.

Carl Tuffuor is not the only one in support of a fixed term for both the FIFA and GFA presidencies.

Worlanyo Agra, a member of CAF’s executive committee also said he supports the call for a fixed tenure for the Ghana FA and FIFA presidents.

Two five year terms would be an ideal fixed term of office, according to Mr Agra.

A fixed term of office, Mr Agra observes, is part of key reforms that would come out the scandal that has hit the football governing body.

However, beyond a fixed term for a FIFA President, Mr Agra says the ethics committee of FIFA also needs to wake up. “The ethics committee should be more proactive,” he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]