by Our Sports Desk

FIFA must vote in favour of proposed reforms on Friday to show its corrupt image is in the past, a member of its executive committee said yesterday.

Football’s world governing body is mired in the worst crisis of its 111-year history ahead of the election of a successor to Sepp Blatter, who was president from 1998 until being caught up in allegations of corruption.

Investigations by Swiss and United States law enforcement officials which engulfed Fifa are ongoing and Fifa will vote on reforms designed to repair its image and guard against future misdemeanours on Friday.

Australian Moya Dodd says the reforms — designed to create a clear separation between political power and contractual practices at football’s world governing body — must be adopted.

“I do not want to wake up on the 27th (of February) without these reforms in place,” Dodd said.

“The reforms simply have to pass. The world is watching and the opportunity is directly before the member associations to send a loud and clear message that Fifa ‘gets it’ and is truly changing.”

The delegates at Fifa’s congress will vote on the reforms on Friday, with a 50 per cent turnout required and a 75 per cent of valid votes to be cast in favour for the reforms to take effect.

The reforms address issues of governance, accountability, transparency and diversity.

The 24-member executive committee will be replaced by a council of 36 members, at least six of whom must be women.

And Dodd also believes that the reforms could be monumental of addressing the widescale gender imbalance in football.

“Friday is not only a milestone for Fifa but also for women in sport,” Dodd added.

“Hopefully, we’ll look back and say this was the day that truly opened the door for the greater participation of women in the world governance of football.”