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FIFA appoints a woman from Senegal first secretary general

Monday, May 16th 2016 - 07:06 UTC
Full article 2 comments
Samoura, 54, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will start at football's governing body in June. Samoura, 54, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will start at football's governing body in June.
Samoura is currently UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Development Program Resident Representative in Nigeria. Samoura is currently UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Development Program Resident Representative in Nigeria.
Infantino said he recommended Samoura because of her “fresh perspectives from outside the traditional pool of football executives” Infantino said he recommended Samoura because of her “fresh perspectives from outside the traditional pool of football executives”

FIFA has appointed Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura from Senegal as the federation's first female secretary general. She succeeds former FIFA No.2 Jerome Valcke, who was recently banned from football for 12 years for a series of ethics violations.

 Samoura, 54, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will start at football's governing body in June.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino nominated Samoura during Friday's congress in Mexico City. The proposal was approved. Samoura will now undergo an eligibility check and is expected to start in four weeks' time.

Samoura is currently UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Development Program Resident Representative in Nigeria.

“She [Samoura] is someone from the outside, not someone from the inside, not someone from the past,” Infantino told the congress.

Infantino said he recommended Samoura because of her “fresh perspectives from outside the traditional pool of football executives,” in addition to her record of integrity and operational experience.

“FIFA is taking a fresh approach to its work, and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible,” Samoura said in a statement from FIFA. “I believe this role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience, strategic, high impact team building in international setting, which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.”

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  • AWomanOnTheInternet

    I think it's time the writer asks HIMSELF (because it is obviously a man) if it is really necessary to specify a WOMAN was appointed to this position. A man being appointed wouldn't be news, so why should a woman being appointed be? Slow news day?
    Let me re-work your headline “Person From Senegal Is Appointed As FIFA's New Secretary General”.
    Let's work on eliminating our innate sexism, shall we? It has no place in a reputable publication of any kind.

    May 17th, 2016 - 04:55 pm 0
  • Klingon

    @1 Football is a male dominated sport, so yes it is relevant to add she is a woman.
    Pathetic how they need to toss in the token black and woman to keep the lefty's happy.
    Shouldn't it be the best person for the job?

    May 18th, 2016 - 12:46 pm 0
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