AP, Bern :
A panel steering reforms of football’s crisis-hit governing body started work Wednesday on its mission to help FIFA change and restore its credibility.
Former IOC director general Francois Carrard chaired a 12-member group of football officials and lawyers which began a two-day session at a hotel next to Switzerland’s parliament.
Members of Carrard’s team, all picked by FIFA’s six continental confederations, declined comment before the Swiss lawyer’s scheduled news conference on Thursday.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter gave an opening address to kick off a process he promised on June 2 when announcing his resignation plans under pressure from American and Swiss criminal investigations implicating senior football officials.
After Blatter’s speech Wednesday, FIFA audit monitor Domenico Scala presented his ideas, including to restructure the much-criticized, 27-member executive committee and cut its influence on decision-making.
Scala also wants to impose term limits on senior FIFA officials, publish what payments they get and require stricter integrity checks on candidates.
