PORT LOUIS - Fifa's executive committee met yesterday in a prelude to an annual congress later this week that is considered a landmark moment for football's governing body to complete its reform process and put behind it two years of scandals.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter will report on the reforms already undertaken last year. The 209 member countries will then vote on more proposed changes at the two-day congress, which opens tomorrow in Mauritius.

"I look forward to further important decisions being passed at the congress in 2013 to complete the reform process and bring Fifa up to the highest standards of good governance, as befits an organisation such as ours," Blatter wrote in his introduction to the congress agenda.

The president also said in response to criticism that Fifa wasn't taking the reform process seriously or wholeheartedly: "It'd be unfair to say we are not doing well."

In one step already accepted, the congress will elect a first permanent female member of the executive committee from four candidates, while the 77-year-old Blatter could indicate an intention to stand for another four-year term as leader beyond 2015 despite pledging when re-elected in 2011 that this would be his last.

Other matters on the sidelines of the congress will be the question of sterner punishments for racism in football after the recent re-emergence of the problem in Italy and the game's ongoing battle with matchfixing, both of which are "high on the agenda", Blatter said.

Brazil's preparations for the 2014 World Cup will be examined at the executive committee and the congress. Fifa will also make final plans for next month's Confederations Cup.