The Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samourahas announced she is stepping down after seven years as the highest-profile woman working in world soccer, as announced by the governing body. samoura She will remain in the position she held from 2016 until the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which runs from July 20 to August 20, and will leave at the end of the year, FIFA said.
The 60-year-old former United Nations official from Senegal arrived at the world soccer’s highest body seven years ago, shortly after the election of Gianni Infantino as FIFA President. Her arrival was surprising because she became the first woman, the first black person, the first Muslim and the first non-European to become the main administrator of FIFA. However, Infantino’s no-nonsense style as chief executive led Samoura to often struggle to establish a clearly defined public role in a job for which he was paid two million a year.
During his seven years at FIFA, Samoura’s work included promoting global women’s soccer, helping oversee the Men’s World Cups in Russia and Qatar, and awarding the 2026 edition to be played in the United States. , Canada and Mexico.
your predecessor Jerome Valcke he was fired in 2016 and suspended for ethical reasons.
“FIFA is now a better managed, more open, more trustworthy and more transparent organization. I will leave FIFA with great pride and satisfaction,” he said. samoura it is a statement.
“I intended to share my news with FIFA Council members first next week, but I know there has been increasing speculation about my position in recent months.
“At the moment, I am fully focused on the preparation and delivery of the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”
Samoura, who began her career at the United Nations in the World Food Program in 1995 and has served as a national representative or director in six African countries, has been deeply involved in the improvement of women’s football.
“Fatma is the first woman, and the first African, to be appointed to such an important position at FIFA,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“We respect Fatma’s decision and I want to thank her for her dedication and commitment to football.”
Samoura oversaw the restructuring of FIFA, which included the appointment of two assistant secretaries general and the creation of a new women’s soccer division.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
