New Zealand above the fray of FIFA corruption scandal

New Zealand must use its untarnished reputation in sport to help root out corrupt practices in international football says Transparency International’s New Zealand Chair Suzanne Snively.

With New Zealand having recently hosted the FIFA Under 20 World Cup, its sporting reputation remains unchallenged amid the many corruption scandals that have engulfed world football.

As one of only three countries in the world to enact anti match fixing legislation, and as one of the top two countries in the world with regards to corruption free practices in the public sector, Snively believes that New Zealand must use its position to campaign for the elimination of corruption in sport as in all other areas of life including commerce and governance.

Parent body Transparency International has already called for the mobilisation of wider audiences in the fight against corruption through connecting with the sports community in the areas of:

• Improving governance of sports organisations
• Strengthening the integrity of the bidding, awarding and hosting of major sporting events
• Preventing and combatting match‐fixing

Snively says the New Zealand chapter of Transparency International endorses that call and says New Zealand authorities must use their status to spear head any efforts.

Having already shown their independence in voting against the reinstatement of disgraced FIFA President Sepp Blatter, New Zealand is perfectly positioned to ensure the message that corruption and bribery have no place in sport or any other endeavour is carried forward.

Transparency International through its global network in 100 countries, it has developed many resources to help organisations be they sporting, commercial or governmental to tackle the destructive impact of bribery and corruption.

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) works to actively promote the highest levels of transparency, accountability, integrity and public participation in government and civil society in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Transparency International New Zealand provides a free Anti‐Corruption Training Tool designed by leading experts in the field, and enables organisations to provide training for their personnel.

For more information go to www.transparency.org.nz

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