FIFPRO WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Officials from the Asociación Mexicana de Futbolistas, Kenya Footballers Welfare Association and Qatar Players’ Association collected the certificate of incorporation from FIFPro secretary general Theo van Seggelen.

It takes the number of FIFPro members to 66. Additionally, there are five candidate members and four observers. Slovakia, Turkey and Zambia were confirmed as candidate members at the general assembly.

FIFPro president Philippe Piat opened the assembly which will cover a series of issues including the use of player data, anti-doping rules and concussion.

We have a shared desire to finally see a football that is fairer, more egalitarian and more respectful of legislation and players, Piat told delegates.

The assembly is in Rome to mark the 50th anniversary of Italian player association, Associazione Italiana Calciatori (AIC).

AIC President Damiano Tommasi, the former AS Roma midfielder (in the photo above), asked delegates for the honour of hosting the event.

Roma captain Daniele De Rossi, via a video message, told how AIC was founded to help players avoid financial problems and prepare for life after football. Fifty years later, this is still an issue, De Rossi and Tommasi said.   

Representatives from FIFA are participating in the assembly to discuss the ongoing reform of player transfers and the use of technology in matches.

From left to right: James Situma Wakhungu and Jerry Santos (Kenya),
Edson Luis Zwaricz and Alvaro Ortiz (Mexico) and Abdulrahman Al Kuwari (Qatar)
receive official membership from FIFPro secretary general Theo van Seggelen