Swiss president urges FIFA to fight corruption

By foxsports
Published

Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey has challenged FIFA to fight corruption and be more transparent, as football's governing body deals with a bribery scandal.

Addressing FIFA President Sepp Blatter and 208 national delegations, Calmy-Rey urged them to ''take seriously the many criticisms voiced about corruption.''

Calmy-Rey spoke at the opening of FIFA's Congress which is set to re-elect Blatter on Wednesday.

His rival Mohamed bin Hammam withdrew from the contest before FIFA suspended him for allegedly bribing voters.

Calmy-Rey says FIFA ''is important to Switzerland'' but should reform its governance.

Switzerland's government is reviewing laws which currently give international sports bodies special exemptions from some business laws.