British PM urges Fifa-style anti-corruption drive at G7

[LONDON] British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday called for the G7 to "show the same courage" that exposed Fifa's corrupt practices in order to tackle graft around the world.

Mr Cameron said the Group of Seven top industrialised democracies, who meet from Sunday in Germany, should be inspired by the upheaval at football's global governing body to start rooting out corruption worldwide.

"In the last fortnight we have seen the stark truth about Fifa. The body governing football has faced appalling allegations that suggests it is absolutely riddled with corruption," Mr Cameron said in a statement.

"Just as with Fifa, we know the problem is there, but there is something of an international taboo over pointing the finger and stirring up concerns.

"At international summits, leaders meet to talk about aid, economic growth and how to keep our people safe. But we just don't talk enough about corruption. This has got to change.

"We have to show some of the same courage that exposed Fifa and break the taboo on talking about corruption." At the G7 meeting in the southern state of Bavaria, Mr Cameron was to cite World Bank estimates that corruption adds 10 percent to business costs worldwide, with an estimated US$1 trillion paid in bribes every year.

"Corruption is the cancer at the heart of so many of the problems we face around the world today. It doesn't just threaten our prosperity, it also undermines our security," he said.

"Football is beginning a long journey to rid itself of corruption and it will take time, courage and determination to see through the reforms that FIFA needs.

"I believe world leaders must show the same courage and determination to tackle corruption around the globe." Mr Cameron was due to say there is an onus on international leaders to combat the issue, and was to demand action over the coming months to ensure international organisations tasked with combating corruption work effectively together.

AFP