FIFA meet in Mexico, trying to restore organization’s credibility

World Today

FIFA, the governing body of world football, opens its 66th Congress this week in Mexico City. It comes at a time when the organization’s new president, Gianni Infantino, is trying to restore credibility following a corruption scandal.

CCTV’s Franc Contreras reports.

Mexico City’s monumental Azteca Stadium, which can hold more than 100,00 fans, has been called a cathedral to the game of football. This week, it will be used to welcome FIFA officials.
This is the first time Mexico will host a FIFA Congress. The organization’s new president, Gianni Infantino, elected in February, will preside over the event. At a news conference this week, Infantino said his focus will be on moving beyond the corruption scandal.

“It’s the first Congress of a new era for FIFA, a new era where we focus on football and football development,” Infantino said.

He also stressed the need to rebuild trust in FIFA following a questionable payment of two million dollars authorized by former President Sepp Blatter to European Football Association President Michel Platini. FIFA suspended both Blatter and Platini last year for ethics violations. Both men are challenging that decision.