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Monday, May 30, 2016

New key roles for Villiger and Boban as Soumara sets out her FIFA vision


    

arco Villiger, former FIFA Director of Legal Affairs and new Deputy secretary-general in charge of the new commercial/administrative sector (Photo: Getty Images)
by Keir Radnedge, AIPS Football Commission Chairman
LONDON, May 30, 2016 - FIFA’s new secretary-general, Fatma Soumara, has announced the latest two appointments by president Gianni Infantino – three weeks before she takes up her new role with the world football federation. Marco Villiger, who has played a key role over the past year as legal director, will become deputy secretary-general in charge of the new commercial/administrative sector;
Zvonimir Boban, the former Croatia midfielder who has accompanied Infantino on his recent travels around the world, becomes DSG at the head of the revamped development and competitions department.
Villiger’s switch, after his key role in keeping the FIFA ship afloat over the past storm-battered 12 months, contrasts with the sacking last week of Markus Kattner as financial director and interim secretary-general.
Splitting FIFA into two ‘pillars’ was one of the most positive and progressive ideas of Infantino, who was elected in succession to banned Sepp Blatter in February. Previous secretary-general Jerome Valcke had opposed suggestions that FIFA would benefit from dividing sectional responsibilities.
Soumara confirmed the new appointments on her first visit to FIFA headquarters in Zurich when the Senegalese diplomat addressed staff after a management meeting with Infantino and senior administrators.
Her own appointment was announced two weeks ago by Infantino during FIFA Congress in Mexico. She is currently preparing to leave her current post as a United Nations co-ordinator in Nigeria ahead of taking up her role at FIFA on June 20.
Explaining the changes, she told staff: “To achieve our goals, we have decided to introduce an improved structure that will make FIFA more efficient and fit to its purpose of developing football everywhere.
“FIFA’s administration will be split into two dedicated pillars: one designed to generate financial returns and operating the administrative work that comes along with it, and another one focused on developing football and organising the competitions.”
Soumara also underlined her personal commitment to the reform process which suffered a major PR setback at congress with a regulatory change which wiped out a guarantee of independence to the judicial panels including the all-important ethics committee.
She said: “It is my goal to keep on putting the reforms into action and to help FIFA in its process of being recognised as an institution that is run under the principles of good governance, and one of which people may be proud.
“I cannot think of a more exciting job than this and I am happy to embark in this journey of bringing an inclusive agenda to FIFA and developing football for all. I want to help making FIFA a place where it is good to live.”
Infantino expressed his satisfaction with Samoura’s ‘debut’.
He said: “Ms Samoura has not even started in the job yet but it was great to see her already building a strong rapport with the team. I am enthusiastic about the positive impact that she can bring to the organisation with her ideas.”
Immediately after FIFA Congress Infantino brought in Kjetil Siem, who had been general secretary of the Norwegian federation, in charge of strategic affairs.
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Canada's schedule for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016




Canada will face Cameroon, Germany, and Venezuela in the group phase of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016. The 16-nation draw was unveiled on Monday 30 May, with two nations from each of four groups escaping the three-match group phase.
Canada will face Cameroon on 30 September in Irbid, Germany on 3 October in Amman, and Venezuela on 7 October again in Amman.
"This will be a great experience for our players as all three opponents have very different styles of play," said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer's Women's National U-17 Coach. "For our youth players, this will be an opportunity to get to experience those styles. It is an opportunity to get to adapt, to get more games, and to get more experience to grow and develop."
The groups were defined as follows:
Group A: Jordan, Spain, Mexico, New Zealand
Group B: Venezuela, Germany, Cameroon, Canada
Group C: Nigeria, Brazil, England, Korea DPR
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Ghana, Japan
From 16 nations, eight will escape the group phase to reach the quarter finals, where Canada have landed three times in four trips to FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Canada are hoping to go one step further and reach the semi finals at Jordan 2016.
The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 runs 30 September to 21 October, with the 32 matches to be played at four stadiums in Amman, Ibid, and Al Zarqa.
 

Road to Rio Series: Canada v Brazil June 4 in Toronto, June 7 in Ottawa -= Canada Soccer names roster for “tier one test”





Canada Soccer has named the 20 player roster for the Road to Rio home match series against Brazil. Canada’s Women’s National Team will take on Olympic hosts Brazil in a two game series in Toronto 4 June and Ottawa 7 June, as both teams prepare for this summer’s 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“Playing against Brazil is a true tier one test,” said Head Coach John Herdman. “Their attacking style and prowess is something we are going to have to be able to cope with defensively, but at the same time, as a group we have to find a way to win against a team that will be one of the favourites to medal in Brazil this summer.”
Canada’s roster for the home match series includes Olympic and FIFA Women’s World Cup veterans, as well as some new faces that have helped to bring increased pace to Canada’s side. Fans will have the opportunity to watch Canadian stalwarts including Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi and Diana Matheson, play alongside young stars like Kadeisha Buchanan, FIFA’s top young player from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.
As part of Canada Soccer’s bid to step on the Olympic podium and see the maple leaf raised at consecutive Olympic Games, the two matches against Brazil will be important tests to get Canada ready for the tournament in August.
Canada has maintained a rivalry with Brazil going back many years with a record of five wins, five ties and six loses since 1996. Most recently, Canada fell twice to Brazil in Brazil in a four nation’s tournament in Natal in December, before coming back and defeating the Brazilian side in the final of the Algarve Cup in Portugal in March.
“Hosting Brazil here in Canada gives us a great opportunity to prepare for the Olympics,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary. “But it also gives us an opportunity to share our Olympic journey with Canadian soccer fans from coast to coast. The Canada Soccer Road to Rio series will bring home to our fans a taste of what’s to come in Rio this summer.”
“It’s fantastic that Canada Soccer have again been able to bring top class opponents to this country,” added Herdman. ““It’s great that our fans will be able to see us playing in truly meaningful matches before we leave for the Olympic Games.”
With both matches heading towards sell-out crowds - over 85% of tickets are sold for the Toronto match on 4 June and over 75% are sold for the Ottawa match on 7 June - fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets now to ensure they get a spot to see Canada play Brazil LIVE on home soil.
Fans unable to attend the matches in person will have the opportunity to catch all the action on TSN. Starting at 16:00 on 4 June on TSN 1, TSN 3, TSN 4 and TSN 5, and again on 7 June starting at 19:00 on TSN 1, TSN 3, TSN 4 and TSN 5.
Ticket information for Canada v Brazil at BMO Field in Toronto, June 4th 2016: Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, by phone 1.855.985.5000, or in person from Ticketmaster retail outlets.
Ticket information for Canada v Brazil at TD Place in Ottawa, June 7th 2016: Tickets are on sale via CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267), and in person at the TD Place Box Office.
Canada Soccer home match international friendly roster
CANADA
GK – Stephanie Labbé, age 29, from Edmonton, AB/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
GK – Sabrina D'Angelo, age 23, from Welland, ON/ Western New York Flash (NWSL)
GK – Kailen Sheridan age 20, from Whitby, ON/ Clemson University (NCAA)
D – Kadeisha Buchanan, age 20, from Brampton, ON /West Virginia University (NCAA)
D – Rebecca Quinn, age 20, from Toronto, ON / Duke University (NCAA)
D – Shelina Zadorsky, age 23, from London, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
D – Josée Bélanger, age 30, from Coaticook, QC./ Orlando Pride (NWSL)
D – Allysha Chapman, age 27, from Courtice, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
D – Rhian Wilkinson, age 34, from Baie-d'Urfé, QC/Unattached
M – Jessie Fleming, age 18, from London, ON/ London NorWest Optimist SC
M – Ashley Lawrence, age 20, from Caledon, ON/ West Virginia University (NCAA)
M – Diana Matheson, age 32, from Oakville, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
M – Deanne Rose, age 17, from Alliston, ON/ Scarborough GS United
M – Sophie Schmidt, age 27, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Frauen-Bundesliga)
M – Desiree Scott, age 28, from Winnipeg, MB/ FC Kansas City (NWSL)
F – Janine Beckie, age 21, from Highlands Ranch, CO./Houston Dash (NWSL)
F – Gabrielle Carle, age 17, from Lévis, QC/ Dynamo Québec
F – Nichelle Prince, age 21, from Ajax, ON/ The Ohio State University (NCAA)
F – Christine Sinclair, age 32, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns FC (NWSL)
F – Melissa Tancredi, age 34, from Ancaster, ON/ KIF Örebro (Damallsvenskan)
 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

El fútbol chileno tiembla ante la auditoría forense de la empresa Deloitte

En la ANFP llegó el día que tanto se esperaba. Hoy, en el Consejo de Presidentes extraordinario que se realizará en Quilín, la empresa Deloitte dará a conocer los resultados de la auditoría forense que investigó la turbulenta administración de Sergio Jadue.
En los presidentes de los clubes existe expectación. Saben que puede ser un día trascendental para el futuro del fútbol chileno.
La empresa Deloitte realizó una auditoría forense a partir del informe que entregó el ex contralor Ramiro Mendoza. Se presentarán las irregularidades que se cometieron en la administración pasada de la ANFP. Esperemos que eso sea una base para clarificar qué sucedió, y que los responsables paguen”, dijo Luis Larraín, presidente de Cruzados.
En la ANFP han intentado mantener en reserva los resultados. Sólo algunos directores, como Andrés Fazio y Arturo Salah, manejan las conclusiones. Sin embargo, se sabe que uno de los puntos que más llamó la atención fue el pago de $ 138 millones que se realizó para arrendar un avión, durante el Mundial de Brasil 2014, según publicó Ciper Chile. Sergio Jadue, junto a sus hombres de confianza en Quilín, Nibaldo Jaque y Mauricio Etcheverry, entre ellos, utilizaron el servicio en reiteradas oportunidades. También se acusa a cercanos a Jadue de realizar cerca de seis viajes a Nueva York durante el segundo semestre de 2015, para contratar abogados que defendieran a Jadue ante la justicia norteamericana. Todo con dinero de la sede de Quilín. En esas visitas, se contrató a dos empresas de abogados que lo asesoraron. Arturo Salah, presidente de la ANFP, señaló hace unos días que se detectaron seis nuevos puntos de irregularidades fraudulentas que pueden ampliar las querellas. Una de estas situaciones, por ejemplo, es la emisión de boletas de honorarios a personas que no han justificado los servicios que presentaron en su momento.
Es importante saber todo el desfalco que ocurrió en la ANFP. La auditoría, seguramente, involucrará a muchas personas que aún no se han nombrado. Directores y ejecutivos que están pasando desapercibido”, dice Carlos Ferry, presidente de San Marcos de Arica.
Los resultados implicarán nuevas querellas. Entienden que Sergio Jadue no actuó solo durante su período, que terminó con una severa crisis en el fútbol chileno.
Queremos saber la verdad con claridad, con pruebas. Queremos que aparezcan los verdaderos culpables. No creo que sólo uno haya cometido todo, creo que debe haber más gente involucrada”, comenta Pablo Milad, mandamás de Curicó. “Hay más gente metida de lo que uno cree. Hay más gente vinculada. Nos han dicho que nos vamos a llevar sorpresas. Queremos que se limpie un poco la actividad y que dejen de decir que todos los dirigentes somos ladrones”, agrega.
Miguel Nasur, presidente de Santiago Morning, culpó a la anterior gestión de los graves problemas económicos del fútbol chileno: “Recién después de siete meses vamos a saber algo. Lo importante es que se solucione el tema económico, porque aquí los menos culpables son los clubes, nosotros estamos pagando el ‘pato’, hay que aclarar dónde están las platas y dónde están los préstamos”, cerró.