The global hub of governing bodies has now taken an extreme step to implement a decisive change in its anti-corruption laws with a hope to tackle the root cause of this malpractice even if it is being happened in a private organization. Notably, there are around thirty international sports’ governing bodies who fall into private originations’ category and enjoy their status outside of Swiss penal codes, but if Swiss government continues to its promises, coming months would change the whole picture by adding all these bodies into the preview of Swiss anti-corruption laws which include FIFA – based in Zurich, UEFA – headquarters in Nyon, IOC- based in Lausanne, and International Cycling Union – based in Aigle, which are among some of the high profile bodies having their headquarters in Switzerland. At the moment, the draft in on table and will be open for public preview with a September 5 deadline and if it could get a public referendum, there would be strictest norms for new each scandal that happens in any of the soccer governing bodies. Notably, corruption has ever been a major problem in soccer and more especially, during last few months; there have been many revelations which said that majority of matches in Europe were fixed even before they kicked off, hence such an initiative has long been waiting by everyone.
Beside soccer, there are other sports, like cycling who will come under the preview of new codes coz all these sports are facing a big threat for their age-old prestige and respect which has been marred by some high profile recent scandals – who can forget Salt Lake City Winter Olympics scandal and 2011 FIFA cash-for-votes scandal. Swiss government issued a public statement mentioning its extreme initiatives, it reads as, “Switzerland is among the countries least affected by corruption and has effective legislation in this regard. But suspicions of corruption in the awarding of the hosting of major sporting events have revealed the weaknesses which exist in the field of private corruption.
“This situation has been increasingly discussed in view of the constant events of corruption observed in the international sporting federations. Because of this, private corruption should be regulated within the penal code and should no longer depend on a situation of concurrence. For example, acts of corruption committed in the awarding of the organisation of big sporting events should be punishable.”