FIFA gets first-ever female Secretary-GeneralMay 14, 2016 - 11:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - FIFA on Friday, May 13 named Senegalese UN diplomat Fatma Samoura as the first female secretary general in the history of the male-dominated world football organization, AFP says. Samoura, 54, comes from outside the football world, having worked with the United Nations for 21 years. She is currently based in Nigeria for the UN Development Program. "Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honored to take on the role of FIFA's Secretary General," Samoura, who has also worked at the World Food Program, said in a statement. "I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at FIFA." She will take her post by mid-June after undergoing an eligibility check administered by an independent review committee, AFP says. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who announced her appointment by the FIFA Council during a congress in Mexco City, said Samoura was a "great person" with experience managing big organizations, budgets and staff. "We have to be serious when we say we embrace diversity and we believe in gender equality," Infantino said. "She will bring a fresh wind to FIFA, somebody from outside, not somebody from inside, not somebody from the past but somebody new." Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |