Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou caught dozing in a Meeting

FIFA's executive committee approved a package of planned reforms on Thursday aimed at cleaning up football's scandal-plagued world governing body, proposing term limits for senior officials and increased representation for women.

The proposals, which would also reduce the power of the executive committee, will be presented in February to FIFA's Congress, which has the power to alter the statutes.

At the same time, the executive committee delayed a decision on a controversial proposal to expand the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams.

'These reforms are moving FIFA towards improved governance, greater transparency and more accountability,' acting president Issa Hayatou said. 'They mark a milestone on our path towards restoring FIFA's credibility as a modern, trusted and professional sports organisation.'

But while the package hailed as progressive for FIFA, the content of the announcement could not do enough to keep everyone excited.

Acting president Hayatou himself was seen to be nodding off during the press conference in Zurich. FIFA reform committee chairman Francois Carrard even told the audience: 'You must be bored by now'.

Hayatou, 69, underwent a major kidney operation three weeks ago but was said to have made a full recovery.

Under the new proposals, FIFA's president and leading officials would be restricted to three terms of four years each, and would be subjected to centralised integrity checks before assuming office.