No room for error in reform of Concacaf

In the running: Montagliani is bidding to become the next president of Concacaf



Victor Montagliani believes Concacaf nations have no choice but to back a package of reforms aimed at salvaging the governing bodys battered reputation.

Montagliani, the Canada Soccer Association president who is bidding to become the next president of Concacaf, said officials in the region who doubted the need for change should probably resign.

Concacafs lawyers warned members of the governing body at a meeting last week in Miami that a failure to reform could have dire consequences, including criminal convictions, disbandment and forfeiture of assets.

Viewed as a victim by the United States in its far-reaching corruption investigation, the governing bodys lawyers said it was extraordinary that Concacaf enjoyed that status given the extent of the alleged fraud.

I think sometimes lawyers engage in hyperbole, I dont think this is one of those times, Montagliani said. We [Concacaf] have no margin for error, we cannot fool around [with reform].

We are on two strikes, and if were being honest weve probably had three.

Ultimately, its about good governance. There is nothing scary in the reforms and I think anyone who has a problem with them should probably resign from the sport.

Concacaf will hold a special congress in Zurich on February 25, a day before Fifa votes on its own reforms and elects a new president.

A series of changes to the organisations statutes, including term limits and the introduction of independent members of oversight committees, will be put to the vote.

For Montagliani it is essential that the reforms go beyond tinkering at the margins and he warned that the cost of doing nothing would be a high one.

Ultimately, Montagliani hopes to be the man who sets about leading Concacaf out of the dark days of the recent past and towards a brighter future.

To do that he must convince the regions member nations to support him at the presidential election in Mexico City on May 12.

The Central American Football Union has already voiced its support for Montagliani, as has Sunil Gulati, the president of the US Soccer Federation.

Larry Mussenden, the Bermuda Football Association president, is also running and is likely to be Montaglianis main rival, especially as he can count on significant support within the Caribbean.

Mussenden is fortunate to have a foot in both the North American region, which Bermuda is linked with politically within Concacaf, and in the Caribbean, with the Bermuda national teams playing in CFU competitions.

The Caribbean has traditionally carried a significant amount of weight in the vote for president, with two of the past three presidents, Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, and Jeffrey Webb, of the Cayman Islands, coming from the region.

Montagliani, though, is urging those nations to ignore the political rivalries of the past and back the right man for the job, the man he believes himself to be.

Its not about where you come from, what your ethnic background is, it has to be about the best person to pull the confederation together, Montagliani said. It cant be about politics. That has killed us for the past 50 years in this region.

Sport is not just about the game, its a business, and the person who leads it needs to have the ability to make strategic decisions, to understand good corporate governance.

The Canadian points to his background in football on and off the pitch as a player and administrator, and his experience in business as examples of why he should be the man to lead Concacaf.

According to Montagliani the qualities necessary to lead are embedded deep in his DNA, and he also points to the four languages he speaks, which he believes give him the intimate knowledge necessary to understand the cultural differences that exist in Concacaf.

Outside of the member associations Montagliani also recognises the need to rebuild the trust people have in Concacaf.

It is about actions, clear and concise, he said. Institutions are not bricks and mortar, they are people and we have to rebuild the bridges with the people. Those entrusted to lead must do so with authenticity, candour, transparency, accountability and passion.