FIFA Ethics Committee

FIFA Ethics Committee

Headquarters	Zurich
Chairman of the Investigatory Chamber	Cornel Borbély
Chairman of the Adjudicatory Chamber	Hans-Joachim Eckert

The FIFA Ethics Committee is one of FIFA's three judicial bodies. It is organized in two chambers, the Investigatory Chamber and the Adjudicatory Chamber. Its duties are regulated by several official documents, most importantly the FIFA Code of Ethics. FIFA's other judicial bodies are the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeal Committee.

The Investigatory Chamber's main task is to investigate potential violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics. Investigations can be carried out at any time, on the discretion of the Investigatory Chamber. In prima facie cases, the chamber has to open investigations. The chamber has to inform all parties involved that an investigation is being carried out, except for situations in which such information could harm the investigations. Investigatory methods include written inquiries and interviews with the parties and other witnesses. Investigations can, if necessary, be conducted by several members of the chamber and can also be assisted by third parties. At the end of an investigation, the chamber delivers a final report to the Adjudicatory Chamber. Should new and important information regarding an investigation come to light, however, the chamber can reopen an investigatory process.

The Adjudicatory Chamber has to review the reports of the Investigatory Chamber and decide whether a case should be proceeded or closed. The Adjudicatory Chamber has the right to return a report to the Investigatory Chamber or carry out further investigations on its own behalf. After reviewing a report of the Investigatory Chamber and after conducting further investigations if deemed necessary, the Adjudicatory Chamber sends a report to all parties involved and asks for their statements.

In addition, the Adjudicatory Chamber has to finally decide on appropriate sanctions. Sanctions must relate to the three fundamental documents regulating the conduct of any person related to FIFA. These documents are the FIFA Code of Ethics, the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the FIFA Statutes. Thus, sanctions can range from warnings and reprimands for lesser cases of misbehavior up to lifelong bans on taking part in any football-related activity worldwide.

The chairmen of FIFA's judicial bodies and their deputies are elected directly by the FIFA Congress and can only be deposed from their offices by the FIFA Congress. The term of office is four years, members can however be re-elected. Chairmen and deputy chairmen of both chambers have to be qualified to practice law and the individual members of the two chambers should be put together in order to ensure an overall high degree of qualifications with regard to their task. In addition, the members of the Ethics Committee should also represent the respective FIFA member associations in an appropriate way.