Football's governing body has been plagued by allegations of corruption involving officials elected from their own regions over the last 18 months.
Mark Pieth, a professor in criminal law working for the independent Basel Institute of Governance, said FIFA could not be directly answerable for everything that went on in its member associations.
"FIFA doesn't have the authority to tell them that 'you need to do this or that', but it distributes money and can motivate people saying 'you will get your money because you are following the rules,'" he said.
"Federations can't just take money like that, you have to account for it," he told Reuters after presenting a report outlining measures that FIFA should take to fight corruption and improve transparency.
"Many of these things seem to be a case of not following their own rules," he said.
"It's like the United Nations, you have to live with the world you have," he said.
His report said that $794 million were spent on development programmes by FIFA such as the so-called Goal and "Win in" projects.
"The challenge is that FIFA has a responsibility for the proper use of these funds," said the report.
"Democracy on the level of a global governing body does not necessarily imply democracy at grass roots level in the individual member associations.
"One of the key challenges will be what influence FIFA can have in fostering good governance and democracy also in its member associations."
"It is fundamental that - in particular in corruption-prone areas of the world - achievers in sports develop into role models as an alternative to corrupt politicians and businessmen," said the report.
"For that reason, it is crucial to keep the world of sports and sports officials clean."
