Dubai: : The only way FIFA can mend their tarnished image and regain their lost reputation is by focusing on transparency, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the President of the Jordanian Football Association and candidate for the Presidency of FIFA, has said.

Speaking at a panel discussion entitled ‘Football’s Future Challenges’ during the 10th Dubai International Sports Conference at the Madinat Jumeirah on Sunday,

“Each country has its own challenges and FIFA has to look at it democratically. Everyone should be given attention. Leadership at the top has to be solid with the view for the future. The changes made in the new reforms has to be clear and should not be misinterpreted,” said Al Hussien, who went on to add that during his stint with FIFA in the Executive Committee he has seen how difficultchange can be to implement.

“During my association with FIFA I learnt how difficult it was to push for new ideas and the only way that could have been possible was to run for Presidency. If the sport has to improve, all the aspects of the sport has to be covered,” added Al Hussein, who is the the founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation.

UEFA’s Secretary General Gianni Infantino also backed Al Hussein’s views and was very critical of the way FIFA ran the show in the past.

“If we do a google for FIFA then we will get all sorts of news possible but football will come probably on page 123. The focus of FIFA has to be on football and for that we need to have reforms, democracy and participation from all the football playing clubs and nations around the globe,” said Infantino, who is also one of the candidates for the FIFA presidency.

Infantino was of the view that small groups cannot evoke the concept and everyone has to be taken on board.

“We need to develop football by investing in a proper way. Getting the clubs along with the national associations to participate is important. We need to get the balance right. We cannot be discussing things three floors underground in Zurich and hope that everything will be okay,” asserted Infantino, who also felt that if there is transparency on how FIFA is spending its money, then a lot of things will definitely fall into place.

“Everyone should know about where the money is coming and going. If that can be done, I think then almost 90 per cent of the problems will be solved.”

He added: “The challenge in front of FIFA was enormous as these were difficult times. And when it is difficult times then either you can stand up and take responsibility or sit back and see everything get destroyed. Football had to take centre-stage at some stage and we did that in the last five months. Now the challenge is to implement the reforms properly.”

FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu also asserted on the role the clubs need to play in supporting and sharing their experience with FIFA.

“We as a club are the ones who are close to the people. We have 17 schools in different parts of the world and so we can share a lot of things with FIFA for the betterment of the sport. As clubs, our role has to be to play for the people and play football the best way we can. We have to play in such a way that the fans are entertained and are happy.”