European football’s governing body has introduced new stringent rules against corruption and bribery in a bid to prevent votes for tournament hosts being rigged.
UEFA’s updated disciplinary code has been distributed in the week that global counterpart FIFA published the findings of a long-awaited investigation into dubious dealings during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contest.
More than 700 words are now dedicated in the UEFA regulations to the “ethical provisions” expected of officials overseeing the world’s wealthiest football continent, and who are expected “to act with complete honesty.”
Executive committee members who vote on the location of UEFA competitions are now warned they have a “duty of care and fidelity” to make their decisions without seeking to enrich themselves or family members.
“They are required to faithfully execute their responsibilities and make decisions in good conscience and good faith, in accordance with objective criteria and never on the basis of any real or perceived improper advantage, pecuniary or otherwise,” the new rule states.
Hosts of Champions League finals are now subject to votes following a bidding process under changes introduced by Aleksander Ceferin, who succeeded Michel Platini as UEFA president last year after the former France great was banned by FIFA for financial wrongdoing.
The 17-person executive committee will choose in September whether the Spanish capital Madrid or Baku, Azerbaijan stages the 2019 Champions League final. The next major tournament decision in September 2018 is whether Germany or Turkey hosts the European Championship in 2024.
A specific section on bribery warns officials to “not directly or indirectly offer, promise, give or accept any undue pecuniary or benefit of any kind with a view to influencing UEFA’s decision-making, whether in business related matters or in any other sphere commercial or otherwise.”
Only gifts or benefits of a “symbolic or traditional nature” can be offered of accepted, the rules state.
“Persons bound by these provisions shall only offer or accept gifts or other benefits that cannot reasonably be considered as susceptible of influencing their behavior, creating any form of obligation or resulting in any conflict of interest,” the UEFA regulations add.
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Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports
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