FIFA and ethics reform: “So, you’re saying there’s a chance”

I will remain on the pessimistic side. I would imagine most of you will, too. But …

Last summer FIFA appointed Michael J. Garcia, a partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP and a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to chair the ethics committee’s investigative arm.

His job is busting up the ethical disregard for which FIFA is so notorious, and the man sounds busier than a fact checker during election season.

Garcia recently completed his first case, as former Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam has been banned for life over financial mismanagement.

He told the Associated Press about what he’s been up to … and how very much he’s been up to it:

I’m a busy man. It’s five months in and I think where we are is a very good place. Outside of FIFA, I’m happy with the fact that people more and more seem to be getting the sense that this is a place where at least you can raise something, you’ll get a hearing, you’ll be taken seriously.

There’s more in the story, including a little about his transparent approach, and about how there should be more to come.

Oh, let it be so.