FIFA on the brink of dissolving, claims former advisor

A former FIFA advisor says the governing body is on
the verge of disaster amid allegations of corruption
against a host of officials.

FIFA is on the verge of collapse after proceedings were opened
against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, according to
former advisor Michael Hershman.

Outgoing FIFA president Blatter and UEFA chief Platini were
handed provisional 90-day suspensions by world football's
governing body earlier this month in relation to a "disloyal
payment" of two million Swiss francs made to the Frenchman in
2011. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, FIFA confirmed proceedings relating to acting
UEFA president Angel Maria Villar and German football legend
Franz Beckenbauer had been passed to the adjudicatory
chamber.

Hershman, who formerly served on FIFA's Independent
Governance Committee, told Omnisport: "FIFA is at the precipice
right now. FIFA might be able to pull itself out with a lot of hard
work or it could dissolve and fail completely.

"Changes are going to come slowly but, in order to establish
credibility, we need to see the changes as they are made and
understand the nature of the changes.

"We have to make sure the organisation's culture changes so
we can be assured in the future, the mistakes of the past aren't
repeated."

FIFA announced on Tuesday that the presidential elections to
replace Blatter would still take place in February, ending reports
of a postponement due to the ongoing crisis in Zurich.

Prince Ali bin Hussein is confirmed to run again, but question
marks remain over Platini's candidacy in light of recent events.

"I think it's important they chose to keep the elections on the
date they chose," he added. "It's so critical to get new leadership
in this organisation and get it in there fast - the right type of
leadership in particular.

"In the very near term, the big question is going to be whether
Platini is going to be cleared by the Ethics Committee and
allowed to run.

"If his suspension is upheld on appeal, I don't see how the
Ethics Committe could possibly clear him to run for president.

"That's what a lot of people are wondering - if it's not Platini,
who is it?"