Madrid, Dec 19 (IANS): FIFA interim president Issa Hayatou and interim general secretary Markus Kattner have published an open message to "friends of football" in which they support comprehensive reforms as "the only way to deter future wrongdoing and to restore faith" in the world football governing body.

This reform must be based on monitoring carried out by independent bodies, the separation of powers and term limits among other measures, according to the FIFA officials on Friday, reports Efe.

"FIFA has faced unprecedented difficulties this year in a crisis that has shaken global football governance to its core. We are now moving through a period of necessary change to protect the future of our organization," the letter said.

Cameroonian Hayatou became the interim president of FIFA on October 8, after Swiss Sepp Blatter was provisionally banned from practicing any soccer-related activities.

German Markus Kattner holds the position of FIFA's interim general secretary after his French predecessor, Jerome Valcke, was dismissed in September over allegations of being involved in corruption cases.

"We maintain that the majority of those working in football governance do so in the right way and for the right reasons, but it has become clear that root-and-branch reform is the only way to deter future wrongdoing and to restore faith in FIFA," the letter added.

Both interim officials believe that next February's FIFA congress to be decisive, as it will choose the new head of the organization, in order to win back "the trust and respect of fans, players, commercial affiliates and all the many millions of participants who make football the world's most popular sport".