“Around the four lines of the rectangle, we have governance issues” – former Blatter-lieutenant launch governance-business

A new governance and financial certification aimed at sports clubs and bodies, co-founded by former FIFA deputy secretary general Jerome Champagne and figures from banking and industry has been launched.

Sportlyanz has created a ten-point system grading governance, compliance, risk management, security and other factors, inspired by labelling standards for consumer and food products.

Why it matters: As society has developed, citizens want greater transparency about all issues they engage with – from the food they buy, the cosmetics they use, to the football club they follow. Sportlyanz tries to bridge that gap.

The perspective: Despite the reputational baggage of ties to Sepp Blatter, the reality of Champagne’s 11 years at FIFA was that he was often sent to difficult places by Blatter in order to clean up wayward federations.