African woman becomes new secretary general of crisis-hit FIFA

An African woman has been named as FIFA’s new secretary general, as the global soccer ruling body tries to move on from a corruption scandal. Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in Nigeria, will be responsible for the day to day running of the federation. “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,” she said in a statement. Read more about FIFA’s newly appointed Secretary General Fatma Samoura – https://t.co/lZ2YITzaew— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) 13 May 2016 Samoura’s appointment was announced by president Gianni Infantino, who was hosting his first Congress since he was elected in February to lead the federation out of its crisis. The corruption scandal has seen 42 soccer officials and entities indicted in the US. FIFA’s Congress also passed a resolution which gives its board, known as the FIFA Council, the power to fire the heads of its independent committees at almost any time. In addition, the Congress voted to accept Kosovo and Gibraltar as the organisation’s 210th and 211th members, opening the way for them to take part in the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition.