ZURICH: More change is on the way at FIFA as Gianni Infantino continues his shake-up of the world football federation following his February accession to the presidency in succession to banned and disgraced Sepp Blatter writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Already Infantino has ‘signed’ Senegalese Fatma Samoura from the United Nations as secretary-general and made several appointments in his own president’s office as well as confirming the splitting of operations between administration (under Marco Villiger) and competitions and events  (under ex-Croatia international Zvonimir Boban).

A stated of more change to come has been formally issued by FIFA which may cause more job security for long-serving staff who may have thought they had to endure enough pressure and uncertainty already over the past few years of never-ending scandal and speculation.

The statement said that “to create a more efficient, streamlined and purposeful operation that reflects the global reach, diversity and unifying nature of FIFA” the organisation was “undergoing a comprehensive restructuring of its administration.”

Streamlining

Aims and priorities of the new operating structure was to create an organisation “better equipped to enact comprehensive reform, to exploit the vast opportunities to develop football and to better serve key stakeholders.”

Elements considered central include:

• An improved Member Associations Division to better service the members and ensure that the FIFA Forward development programme is implemented in the most efficient and appropriate manner.

• A new and fully developed Women’s Football Division, with units for competitions, development, and governance and leadership.

• The creation of a Technical Development Division to better coordinate grassroots, coaching education and refereeing efforts as well as innovative development related to football; this will also include the new position of Technical Director

• A more robust structure to supervise the overall functioning of the Secretary General’s Office, led by the Head of Executive Office, which will provide strategic and advisory input on corporate planning, policy formulation, innovation, and change management.

Slovene Tomaz Vesely was appointed this past week as new chairman of the audit and compliance committee and a new chief compliance officer is being sought to “ensure that FIFA’s business is run to the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency.”

** The appeal by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter against his suspension from all football will be heard on August 25 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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