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 FIFA has been buffeted by scandals that have seen both outgoing
president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini, previously
considered the favorite to take over, both suspended for 90 days.
In addition to allegations of corruption, FIFA has been criticized
for its extravagance, with officials enjoying a five-star lifestyle
that includes private jets and banquets in opulent palaces.
"There are a lot of things I think we need to improve in terms of
style," Champagne, one of seven candidates for the February
election, told Reuters.
The former French diplomat, who worked in various roles at FIFA from
1999 to 2010, said he wanted to reduce costs by five percent across
all areas except development programs.
"We can definitely save some costs on the administration and on the
World Cup," he said.
"The reconstruction of FIFA's image will be achieved only if there
is a change of style, which is more open to the people, more
accessible and to some extent more humble," he added.
"But at the same time, we are not going to stop paying electricity
bills and use candles, just to look better ... or travel with a
donkey and a cart because it would be more populist."
He suggested there was no need for FIFA officials to wear a suit
when they sat in the VIP box at football matches.
"I think we can go to a stadium without a tie, smart-casual would be
fine," he said. "If you look at the images, when a wave is performed
by the fans, you have all the colors of the shirts, and then
suddenly a dark area with people who are not standing up."
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The draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition, staged in St
Petersburg in July, was typically opulent.
On the eve of the draw, delegations from 150 national associations
were treated to a banquet at the Mikhailovsky Palace, the
spectacular neoclassical main building of the Russian Museum in the
city center.
The draw itself took place in similarly impressive surroundings at
the Konstantin Palace set in stunning grounds on the Gulf of
Finland.
FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May with the indictment of 14 soccer
officials and sports marketing executives by U.S. prosecutors.
The decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and
Qatar respectively is being investigated by Swiss authorities and
FIFA's Ethics Committee has also been examining the Garcia report
that looked into the selection process.
(Editing by Tom Heneghan)
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