Brussels, 01/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is concerned by the allegations of corruption at the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). The European commissioner for sport, Androulla Vassiliou, stated that “the situation at FIFA is a concern for many of us”. She underlined that football and sport in general needed to be well managed and above suspicion. Several MEPs, headed by Ivo Belet (rapporteur on professional football) and Syed Kamall (president of the inter-group on sport) supported the declaration launched by the British Parliament calling on FIFA to restore transparency in decision-making and financial management. MEPs are also calling for the setting up of a transparent and independent investigation committee in charge of identifying bad practices. Belet and Kamall declared that “FIFA is confronting a series of scandals linked to corruption, which is dragging football through the mud. It is now the right time to mount a clean-up operation.” At the very time that the EU is implementing European sport policy, based on transparency and fair play, members of FIFA are suspected of corruption, particularly with regard to the choice of Qatar as the host of the football World Cup in 2022. In Italy, 16 people, including the famous goal scorer Beppe Signori, have been found guilty of involvement in corrupt practices and illegal gaming, which has further tarnished the image of professional football. (I.L./transl.fl)