Sunday 15 May 2016 00:01, UK
Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn praised FIFA president Gianni Infantino for pressing on with the reforms needed to restore FIFA's reputation but said world football's governing body still felt "old school".
The FA boss also believes it is "outrageous" that delegates at FIFA gatherings are handed £700 in cash for turning up despite having their accommodation, drink, food and travel already paid for.
Every member association of FIFA can claim the payment for up to three delegates.
Glenn attended the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City with his head of international relations but both rejected the money, unlike the other three Home Nations, although they are understood to have put the money into their development budgets.
"We don't take the £700, we think it's outrageous," said Glenn.
"It costs you nothing when you're here - your travel is paid for - so I don't understand the logic of it at all."
When asked about the payments, Infantino said "it's always been the case" and the payments had been approved by the committees and were separate from development grants.
Overall, however, Glenn is impressed with the start Infantino has made since being elected in February.
"I thought it was a very positive congress, with some great news for women in the appointment of a female secretary general (Fatma Samoura) and the introduction of a women's division, finally - I'm surprised we haven't had one before," the 55-year-old Englishman said.
"He's also moved fast. He's 80 days in and the reforms have been given some shape and substance, so I've been impressed with the speed he's gone at things."
But for a man who has spent most of his career running companies that dominate the shelves of British supermarkets, Glenn believes FIFA still has a long way to go before its brand is repaired.
"Fifa, as it stands, still feels old school," said Glenn. "So if you were a major US multi-national, you wouldn't be running things quite in this way.
"I think (football governing bodies) were put on this earth to raise money for football projects - that's what we're meant to do.
"I don't believe you should wear a hair shirt all the time, because people do put themselves out and don't usually work for these organisations for money.
"But there is a big opportunity to be a lot more efficient and embrace more modern ways of meeting, so any extra dollars we make we can channel into the countries that need it."
That was a reference to Infantino's plea for wealthier nations to hand back some or all of the big increase in development money (US £3.5m over four years) that he promised every member association shortly before February's election. It has since emerged that FIFA lost £87m last year.
Glenn said the FA would consider giving some back but not before it had assessed the impact it would have on its plans to boost disability and women's football.
"It's a lot of money and we've got disadvantaged people in England, so before we say yes unconditionally, we're going to take a look at it," he said.
Another matter that needs more consideration is whether England will make another World Cup bid, having lost pitches for the 2006 and 2018 tournaments in humiliating fashion.
When asked if he had heard or seen anything that would make him think the time was right to try again, Glenn said neither a bid for the men's nor the women's World Cups was "on the agenda".
"I think Infantino will sort FIFA out and as and when he does we'll think about a bid," he added.
But there is one bid Glenn is keen to make and that is to get a former England great among Infantino's FIFA Legends Team of global ambassadors.
The group of 40 or so players, which included Fabio Cannavaro, Figo and Ronaldinho, was given a surprisingly central role in Mexico City and Infantino is evidently pleased with his idea. Glenn liked it too but thought it was missing something.
"We've got to get an England legend on there, or at least a Home Nations one," he said.
"I don't know why we haven't got one here, we've got plenty of them. It's a nice concept, it's something we'd like to do for England players as well."
A FIFA spokesperson had said earlier that "a couple of English players were asked but could not make it for personal reasons".
