FIFA reforms to bar fourth term
Fifa ethics committee has proposed the introduction of three-term limit for presidents and the resolution will be submitted to the General Assembly on February 26 for approval.
Once adopted, member associations will have to revise their statutes to align with that of the world football governing body, however, sitting presidents will not be affected and will serve their term of office.
But if current Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu is re-elected in December 12 polls, it will mean this will be his last term since he would have served more than three terms.
On Thursday, Nyamilandu, who has been at the helm of FAM since 2005, said he would support the resolution to introduce the 12-year limit.
“This matter has been shot down before by Fifa General Assembly and I hope this time around members will fully embrace the reforms for the good of the game,” Nyamilandu said.
“FAM will have to comply with Fifa standard statutes and respect the constitution. So, it will be automatic that if I am re-elected, it will be my last term. No question about it.”
But FAM presidential aspirant Willy Yabwanya Phiri, who is expected to challenge Nyamilandu in December polls after he got nominated, wondered why the incumbent, though fully aware that Fifa is set to introduce the term limit, would still contest.
“I am a democrat and I have always said there is need to have a term limit at Fifa and FAM. Nobody should be a life president of any organisation,” Phiri said.
The Fifa’s reform committee has issued an interim report calling for “significant changes” to its structure and operations to restore the reputation of the world football’s governing body after a corruption and fraud scandal led to the arrest of several high ranking officials and suspension of president Sepp Blatter.
Members of the reform committee were appointed by the six Fifa confederations with Francois Carrard as chairperson.
“Fifa’s leaders must recognise and accept that the errors of the past were real, and they were unacceptable,” Carrard wrote in his proposal submitted to Fifa on Tuesday.
