Moscow, April 30 (IANS): The reforms launched by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) will contribute to implementing the 2018 World Cup Sustainability Strategy in Russia as the host country, it's gead of sustainability Federico Addiechi has said.

In accordance with the reforms approved by the FIFA Congress in February, a council will replace the executive committee and will be responsible for setting the organisation’s overall strategic direction. The general secretariat will oversee the operational and commercial actions required to effectively execute that strategy, reports Tass.

Also, FIFA will ensure greater financial transparency as the president, all council members, the secretary general and relevant chairpersons of independent standing and judicial committees will now disclose their individual compensation on an annual basis.

FIFA has also made a decision to reduce the number of its standing committees to 9 from 26 to optimise the organisation’s work.

"The FIFA reforms are in line with international standards and frameworks of good governance and sustainable organisations. Thus, the reform will strengthen FIFA’s approach to sustainability and the implementation of the sustainability strategy in Russia," Addiechi said on Friday.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Sustainability Strategy was presented in St. Petersburg last July as part of the World Cup’s preliminary draw.

The strategy focuses on the construction and operation of stadiums in compliance with green-building standards that minimise the environmental impacts of FIFA World Cup-related activities, as well as on social development, the promotion of healthy living and sport legacy in the host country.