US senate stages hearing on FIFA governance

At a hearing entitled "Examining the Governance and Integrity of International Soccer", the US senate will inquire into FIFA and various areas of football governance. With an outset in the current investigations into corrupt practices in the world governing body of football, the US senate ‘will examine the integrity and impending leadership in FIFA’, says the press release announcing the hearing.

Investigative journalist Andrew Jennings, who has written numerous books and articles about FIFA corruption and who is believed to be have played an important part in the FBI’s untangling of FIFA affairs, will be speaking at the hearing.   

The hearing will also look into what role the US should play in international football, and concerns about labour rights issues will be debated.

“The organization’s [FIFA’s ed.] culture of corruption is turning a blind eye to significant human rights violations and the tragic loss of lives. This hearing on the recent FIFA scandals will begin the discussion about our country’s own participation in the organization, ways the United States and our allies can work to reform FIFA, and how we can restore integrity to the game so many Americans and citizens of the world enjoy,” said Senator Jerry Moran according to the press release.

Moran is chairing the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security, under which sport resides.

A part from Jennings’ account, the subcommittee will also hear testimonies from Dan Flynn, secretary general in the US FA, Michael Hershman, president and CEO of the Fairfax Group and Sunjeev Bery, Amnesty International’s Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.