Photo credit: AFP.

Photo credit: AFP.

Corruption is “systemic” in soccer, the head of FIFA’s audit watchdog said Thursday, calling for soccer’s world body to be more transparent in its reform moves.

“We have to accept that corruption is systemic in football. If we accept this, we can solve the problem,” Domenico Scala, head of FIFA’s independent audit and compliance committee, told a conference at the body’s Zurich headquarters.

SEE MORE: We, soccer fans, are to blame for FIFA’s corruption.

FIFA is embroiled in scandal with its president Sepp Blatter suspended along with UEFA leader Michel Platini as Swiss authorities investigate alleged criminal mismanagement at the body. US authorities have in parallel charged 14 FIFA officials and sports business executives over involvement in more than $150 million dollars of bribes for business contracts.

Scala’s committee has proposed reforms to FIFA’s management as well as overseeing an election to replace Blatter in February.

“The reform process should be more transparent at FIFA,” Scala told the conference, adding that “the reform committee is slowly moving in the right direction”.