MIAMI (Sunday, February 24, 2013) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) expressed its full support of FIFA’s Statutes reform process, which focuses on the evaluation and review of football’s world governing body’s current statutes as well as the development and proposal of new ones as necessary.

“After more than a century since FIFA’s inception, the global landscape of our game has clearly changed. It is gratifying to see we are finally accompanying this profound renovation of the world of football,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb. “We thank FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee for this timely initiative of reform and express our pride to our Member Associations for their commitment to supporting this transformation.”

The 10-point plan, which includes a wide range of statute-changing recommendations, has been sent to the 40 national federations that comprise the CONCACAF region for consultation, assessment and review.  Member response has been overwhelmingly supportive of the reforms, which confirms the auspicious timeliness of this exercise of statutes review that analyses football’s fundamental principles, focuses on increasing transparency and accountability and places improved governance standards throughout the football industry.

Proposals under discussion include an upper age limit of 72 for FIFA election candidates, a two-term eight-year limit for the presidency, and the privilege of the British Football Association’s seat in the FIFA Executive Committee, as currently assigned to UEFA.

FIFA’s 209 members, rather than its executive committee, will also be asked to choose future World Cup hosts, among other points of reference included in the below list.

1. Confirmation of the members of the FIFA Executive Committee by the FIFA Congress

2. Composition of the FIFA Executive Committee

3. Election of the FIFA President (cf. art. 24 par. 3 of Encl. C)

4. Term of office (cf. art. 21 par. 9 of Encl. C)

5. Age limit (cf. art. 21 par. 8 of Encl. C)

6. Stronger representation of interest groups in FIFA

7. Bidding process/decision on venue of FIFA World Cup (cf. art. 81 of Encl. C)

8. Various clarifications and specifications in the FIFA Statutes

9. International Football Association Board (IFAB)

10. Regulations governing candidatures for the office of FIFA President

During the FIFA Congress in Mauritius next May, Member Associations will vote to ratify the best course of action for the proposed two-year roadmap to reform.

About CONCACAF

CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.