FIFA needs shake up, clubs' chief Rummenigge says

WARSAW — World football's governing body FIFA needs a radical shake-up to repair its corruption-tarnished image, European Club Association chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Monday."Clubs in Europe are not happy with the governance of football," Rummenigge, who is also CEO of German giants Bayern Munich, told reporters after talks in Poland, which is currently at the helm of the 27-nation European Union."You all know the image of FIFA much better than I do," he added.Rummenigge repeatedly locked horns with FIFA before the June 1 re-election of Sepp Blatter as its leader, and has not eased the pressure despite the Swiss supremo's vow to launch a clean up following months of explosive corruption allegations.Blatter, in charge since 1998, has faced widespread calls for reform following sleaze claims surrounding the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar.The European Club Association -- spun from the top clubs' G14 Group and European Club Forum in 2008, and now with 197 members -- has pressed for more say in the running of the game."The poor image of FIFA has to be changed, and can be changed, to give it greater transparency and a democratic code. I believe it is time to change the monopoly of FIFA -- and a certain part of UEFA too. It has to be changed into a democratic football world," Rummenigge insisted."We need good governance in football, as we need good governance in the whole world," he added.Poland's Sport Minister Adam Giersz said Warsaw planned to push the issue over the course of its six-month EU presidency, which started on July 1."The clubs are the bedrock of football and they expect leadership that's based on transparency, openness and democracy in the running of the game," he said.Besides seeking reforms, clubs have been at loggerheads with FIFA over their exclusion from planning the international calendar, which they complain can place too heavy a burden on already-stretched players."Clubs are aware of the fact that the national team is the most important team

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