The football world has been urged to be the agents to change and reforms in shaping the future of the sport that is free from corruption, racial discrimination and toxic values.<\/p>\n
FIFA calls upon its member associations (MAs) to banish against 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President, Datuk Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin, said Infantino\u2019s speech reflected the sentiments of the majority of the MAs who do not want football to be the exclusive domain of a few.<\/p>\n
The Congress, held remotely for the first time ever, ran for almost two hours after commencing at 9pm Malaysian time and was chaired by President Infantino and assisted by FIFA general secretary, Fatma Samoura.<\/p>\n
Infantino restated FIFA\u2019s mission in making football truly global by the year 2023 through a more equitable and balanced competition, transparent governance and education.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“While emphasising health as paramount, the football family has been urged to be introspective in making sure football is truly universal,” said Datuk Haji Hamidin.<\/p>\n
Also present at the virtual congress were FAM Vice President, Dato ‘S Sivasundaram and FAM General Secretary, Stuart Ramalingam.
\nInfantino began the Congress by paying 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 a member of the 1972 Olympic Games squad, V. Krishnasamy.
\nThe FIFA Congress was originally scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June but was postponed due to COVID-19.
\nDatuk Haji 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.
\n“If today only 10 teams are considered capable of winning the FIFA World Cup, we must think of creating the same prospect and opportunity for 50 countries.
\n\u201cIs 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"