Blatter confirmed his intention to stand for a fifth term last month, with former FIFA administrator Jérôme Champagne currently his only opposition ahead of the 2015 elections.

The Swiss' 16-year reign has been blighted by controversies, with the investigation into alleged corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups the latest in a long line.

"If we're going to change organisations like FIFA, change the culture of organisations like FIFA, pressure has to be put on the stakeholders, the sponsors and the federations to demand appropriate change," said Hershman, speaking at the Securing Sport 2014 conference, organised by International Centre for Sport Security, here.

"I've been fortunate in my career to help a number of organisations reform.

"I must say, the FIFA assignment was the most difficult and probably the most unsatisfactory from my standpoint.

"At this point, I don't believe that FIFA will ever have enough credibility unless there's a change in leadership, and that doesn't appear to be happening."

There is much debate about whether the 350-page report into corruption for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments, compiled by Michael Garcia, should be made public ©Getty Images



When asked to expand on the obstacles he had faced as an IGC member, Hershman spoke of a reluctance for change among FIFA's ruling Executive Committee.

"A number of members of the Executive Committee, which really is the ruling body of FIFA , from the very beginning, never thought that reform was needed," he said.

"They really didn't think that the organisation was broken and during the course of our deliberations at the IGC, we continually faced push backs on many of our recommendations.

"That's really one of the key reasons why you have to have new thinking, and have new blood come in.

"Some of the members of the Executive Committee frankly are dinosaurs and they haven't come into the 21st century, understanding the change of culture, the change in climate when it comes to ethics and values."

Blatter insisted last month that the 350-page report into the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 edition to Qatar, compiled by the chairman of the FIFA Investigatory Chamber, Michael Garcia, will remain a secret despite growing calls for the findings to be made public.

Hershman said he would like to see FIFA release the report, providing there are appropriate protections for the privacy of witnesses.

"Without the release of the report, FIFA is going to continue to be ridiculed both in the press and amongst other stakeholders for lack of a commitment to transparency and accountability," he added.

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