KUALA LUMPUR - FIFA calls upon its member associations (MAs) to eradicate all forms of racial discrimination, corruption and match-fixing as well as child abuse in ensuring today’s and future generations play football in a safe and secure environment.
In his speech at the 70th FIFA Congress held via video-conference, FIFA president Gianni Infantino urged delegates from the 211 MAs to work together in making football a truly global sport.
Infantino restated FIFA’s mission in making football truly global by the year 2023 through a more equitable and balanced competition, transparent governance and education.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, said Infantino’s speech reflected the sentiments of the majority of the MAs who do not want football to be the exclusive domain of a few.
“As matter of fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided us an opportunity to reimagine football from a different perspective and an eye opener in finding ways to make it a transparent industry that promotes noble values.
“While emphasising health as paramount, the football family has been urged to be introspective in making sure football is truly universal,” Hamidin added.
Hamidin also echoed Infantino’s sentiments that in this globalization era, the football family has to make sure the FIFA World Cup and all its competitions are not being dominated by a select few from certain continents or clubs.
“If today only 10 countries are considered capable of winning the FIFA World Cup, we must think of creating the same prospect and opportunity for 50 countries.
“Is the number of games and competitions now sufficient, or should it be reduced or increased? Infantino’s message comes very timely, when the football family has the time to dwell on this in view of the postponement of all international matches due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Hamidin.
Accompanying Hamidin at the virtual congress were FAM Vice President, Datuk ‘S Sivasundaram and FAM General Secretary, Stuart Ramalingam.
At the same time, during the Congress, FIFA paid tribute to football practitioners, administrators, players and legends who had passed on throughout 2020, including three from Malaysia - the late Vinayak P Pradhan, the Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee, former FIFA referee, Jaswant Singh Sran and V. Krishnasamy, a member of the 1972 Olympic Games squad.
The FIFA Congress was originally scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June but was postponed due to COVID-19. Football Tribe September 20, 2020.
Please read more here: https://football-tribe.com/malaysia/2020/09/20/fifa-urges-member-countries-including-malaysia-to-change/
