Members of the FIFA’s voting congress will be electing the organization’s next president on Friday, in Zurich. However, out of all the voters, women will only make up less than 1% and this is what soccer fans around the world want a change in.

In a recent survey conducted on soccer fans from all over the world, 64% of respondents want the number of women in key positions increased.

The Anti-corruption organization transparency international, together with the fan group Forza Football conducted a poll in 28 countries, where they surveyed around 25,000 soccer fans.

Most of the respondents in the 28 countries except Russia, believed that FIFA should have more women.

Some of the countries that registered the highest percentage of respondents in favor of the idea include Costa Rica with 83%, Colombia with78%, and Spain with 76%.

Coincidentally, Costa Rica and Spain made their first appearance at the Women’s World cup in 2015 while it was the second consecutive appearance of Colombia into the tournament.

On the other hand, 69% of British and 72% Americans support the idea of adding more women to FIFA’s voting congress that consists of delegates from FIFA’s209 member associations

An increase in the number of women in FIFA’s Executive committee will be voted on by the members on Friday as it is on the broad package of reforms.

Moya Dodd, who is an Australian and one of the few women on the committee came up with a provision that would require women to hold 6 of the 36 executive committee seats.

Dodd said, “This is an unexploited marketfor the world’s most popular game, where half of the world’s population have not really been given a full opportunity to participate. Hence adding more women will be a great step forward and will alsoenhance culture change. “

After making a request to the European Court to clearly define illegal sports betting sometimes in July with the fear that this would prohibit some betting firms in offering betting to European nations, Malta has recently withdrawn it and has decided to back FIFA and other sports bodies in fighting match manipulation.

Convention Seeks to Improve Defense of Match Integrity

The Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competition was initiated in July with an attempt of eradicating fixed matches. This was followed by the introduction of the a consistence flow of communications from national to international sporting organizations whereby those regulators who were suspected to incorporate match fixing would face the law. The drafting of the Convention was definitely going to involve Malta which was seen as the targeted business operation for illegal match fixing.

Nonetheless Malta went against the Convention as it claimed not to clearly understand the definition of illegal sport betting. Malta claimed that this Convention can be given an example to a law that is not concerned with regulating the regulated betting sites who they think stands a little chance of committing match manipulation but rather seeks to destroy the unregulated betting sites.

However, the nation later opted to drop the request but promised to help sports bodies in fighting match fixing despite being a non-signatory member to the Convention.

Perform Group Teams with FIFA to Improve EWS

In attempt to eradicate match fixing, the Perform Group has put pen on a paper in a deal with FIFA’s Early Warning System as they attempt to safeguard the pureness in soccer events. The deal involves the incorporation of Perform Group Opta data into FIFA monitors as they try to perceive any match fixing scandal.

Ralf Mutschke, FIFA director of security the deal with Perform will play a bigger role in attempt to fully eradicate match fixing with this being a start of an essential foundation in the scheme.

Matthew Drew, director of integrity and security for Perform on the other hand claimed that he was pleased to see Perform digital contents being of use in the detection of any peculiar match manipulation in sporting events.

It has been verified that Performa Group one of the renowned Sports data as well as content supplier has come into terms and put pen on paper in a deal that was between them and Early Warning System (EWS) an auxiliary of the world’s FIFA. The deal was meant to act as watchdog and integrity site for football matches.

In the deal, it was stipulated that Performa would have all its existing football data supplies being included in the EWS monitoring system. Among these would be the analysis of the live performance platform as well as historical data matches. However, reports have that this could not be the only reason for the partnership since it came into conclusion that EWS was keeping tabs with the eradication of illegal betting activities and hence its involvement in this deal was more of being a way of enhancing its potential of perceiving and scrutinizing any apprehensive acts that may emanate from illegal gambling acts.

FIFA EWS claimed that it would put in place all its available assets in the fight against illegal sports betting by being on watch and undertaking substantial study on manipulated games. This comes on the onset of European football seasons which are set to kick off this month and others already started up to May next year.

Ralf Mutschke the Director of Security at FIFA claimed that the new association pitting them and one of the principal sports data service provider is a key aspect as they would be in a position of incorporating various scrutinizing approaches that would see match analysis be run effectively. Being among the top leaders in eradicating match fixing, the partnership with Perform provides the much needed team work and dedication in the fighting fixed games approach.

His words were echoed by the Director of Integrity and Security at Perform Matthew Drew who claimed that his company will offer EWS all its support as they try to eradicate match manipulation and that he was pleased to have the digital content of Perform being used by the best holders who are on the verge of doing away with match fixing. He concluded that he was eager to work closely with EWS in the benefit of today’s football.

Visa has told FIFA that they might end their sponsorship if the soccer’s governing body will no act to get back their reputation after senior officials were got arrested on charges of corruption.

As sponsors went on to show their concern on this issue, Visa’s statement was the strongest. Visa became a partner to FIFA in 2007 and they had recently extended their partnership to 2022. Customers to brands associated with FIFA took to social media threatening to boycott.

Visa said that this was a great disappointment and that FIFA should make swift moves and immediate actions in addressing the issues that are transpiring within the organisation. They pointed out that FIFA should start by building a culture which has strong ethical practises but when it fails to do this, they will have no option but reassess their sponsorship.

The US prosecutors issued an indictment on Wednesday which accused 9 of the officials from FIFA. The indictments included those of 5 sports media and promotions officials involving $150 million in a span of over 24 years.

This indictment included a statement indicating that an apparel company offered to pay $160 million in 1996 for over 10 years as long as they remained the exclusive footwear, accessories and equipment supplier for the Brazilian team. Even though the indictment did not state the company, this might be Nike Inc which is the official sponsors of the Brazilian national team. When Nike was called upon to comment on this, they said that they believe in fair play and transparency in sports and in business. They oppose any kind of manipulation and bribery and are cooperating and will continue to do so until the whole mystery is unravelled.

In November last years, Sony and Emirates Airlines announced that they would not renew their deals with FIFA. Qatar Airways and Samsung are said to be on talks to replace them. Emirates and Sony were the main 6 partners that together paid $177 million in 2014 to access right in advertising in the World Cup stadiums, as well as, use their FIFA trademark.

A source that is familiar to Sony’s decision said that one of the reasons to their withdrawal was suspected corruption but the major issue was on the high cost on the sponsorship deal.

It appears that Sepp Blatter will have an easier time in his campaigns and elections for the FIFA presidential election which is set to be held in May the 20^th. Luis Figo joined Michael Praag in stepping down as candidates and potential opponents to Sepp who has been on the position for quite some time now.

The former Portugal midfielder pulled out the very day Van Praag 67 years of age. This now leaves Blatter with one opponent, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan. Blatter will be on the seat for his fifth term if he wins and Figo said that the election is just like any other. He however said that he declined the race on his personal terms as the process entitles absolute power to one man something that he was not comfortable with.

The election process involves the president of the federation being voted by 209 Fifa association members and after his withdrawal from the race Van Praag declared his support for Prince Ali. Van Praag holds the presidential position in the Dutch Football Association. Ali is seemingly having support from the English Football Association and this would therefore mean the Scottish F.A would have his back as well as they had declared support for Van Praag.

Van Praag assured his support for Prince Ali in a joint news conference that was held in Amsterdam on Thursday. He urged his supporters to back Prince Ali saying that Prince Ali had proved beyond doubt that he was the right man to take the seat and challenge Blatter who has been the President since 1998.

In his withdrawal statement Figo said it was important to embrace change in the presidency of the federation. He added that through his vast travelling and experience he had seen how the federation had done a lot but it was important for the leadership to change to clear the federation of all the corruption allegation linked to it by changing the presidential candidate.

Figo went ahead to question to Blatter’s candidacy saying that he had not yet presented his manifesto so as for the members to know what type of leadership they were voting in. He added that Blatter had not participated in any public debate and neither has any other candidate.

This withdrawals comes among others this year including Jerome Champagne from France who pulled out in February, David Ginola who also pulled out two weeks after he announced that he was ready to challenge Blatter.