Soccer officials and players will find the word "corruption" missing from the latest version of the code of ethics governing their conduct...It will be now be even easier for FIFA to banish critics...A new offence has been introduced in the ethics code — defamation. There are no specific examples, providing flexibility for the ethics committee to decide on the burden of proof..."Persons bound by this code are forbidden from making any public statements of a defamatory nature towards FIFA and/or towards any other person bound by this code in the context of FIFA events"...the new code states. Those found to have defamed FIFA will be banned from any football-related activities for up to two years and they can be booted out for five years for repeated “serious cases.”

“This will tamp down criticism of all kinds..."former FIFA governance committee member Alexandra Wrage, an expert in anti-bribery compliance, told The Associated Press on Monday...“Defamation requires a false statement and FIFA would have to prove that any criticism was false, but the real value to FIFA is the chilling effect this will have on critics.”