Detailed Independent Integrity Report Findings Unveiled

PANAMA CITY, Panama (Friday, April 19, 2013) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) held today its XXVIII Ordinary Congress in Panama City, Panama. The seven-hour congress was marked by a multitude of relevant events and highlighted by a report from former Barbados Chief Justice, Sir David Simmons, chairman of the independent Integrity Committee.

The Integrity Committee, which was established last year at the request of various members of the confederation and the CONCACAF Executive Committee, shared the results of its investigation into the activities of the confederation’s previous leadership. The committee’s report can be found in its totality at www.concacafintegrityreport.com.

Additional relevant reports included those from the Audit and Compliance, Finance and Budget Committees.

“Today’s congress marks a defining moment for CONCACAF’s vision of a truly transparent future.” said CONCACAF President, Jeffrey Webb. “The development of the game in our region will surely be safeguarded by the oversight of an accountable governance structure, as demanded by all of our member associations.”

The congress was chaired by President Webb, who was elected at the confederation’s previous Congress on May 23, 2012, in Budapest, Hungary. FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter led the list of football executives in attendance, including CONMEBOL President, Nicolas Leoz; FIFA Vice President, Angel Maria Villar; FIFA Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke; CAF General Secretary, Hicham El Amrani; and UEFA’s General Secretary, Gianni Infantino.

“This is an era of profound opportunity for our confederation to empower through development,” expressed President Webb during his opening speech.  “This is our time to continue forging a common agenda to build on solid foundations and guarantee professional excellence.”

Another congress highlight was the elections held for two positions on the FIFA Executive Committee and for five on the CONCACAF Executive Committee.

The election results were as follows:

FIFA

Vice President (Caribbean Zone):  Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands) won unopposed

Member (North American Zone):  Sunil Gulati (USA) prevailed over Justino Compeán (Mexico)

Gulati, who is also President of the U.S. Soccer Federation, has been a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee since 2007.

CONCACAF

Vice President (Central American Zone):  Alfredo Hawit (Honduras) won unopposed

Vice President (Caribbean Zone):  Captain Horace Burrell (Jamaica) won unopposed

Member (Central American Zone):  Eduardo Li (Costa Rica) won unopposed

Member (Caribbean Zone):  Luis Hernandez (Cuba) won unopposed

Member (North American Zone):  Victor Montagliani (Canada) won unopposed after Sunil Gulati stepped down from position, following his election to the FIFA Executive Committee

Hawit and Burrell have served on the CONCACAF Executive Committee since 2000 and 2004, respectively.  Li, Hernandez and Montagliani will enter their first terms.

In addition, five national associations were granted admission as new CONCACAF members.  French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten, which previously held Associate Member status, became full members. As a result of their new status, they will now be able to participate completely in the confederation’s competitions.

Also, the island of Bonaire was accepted by the congress as an Associate Member of CONCACAF, bringing the total membership to 41 nations.

The confederation also announced the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with three different organizations in three strategic areas:

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (Social responsibility)

CONCACAF and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have agreed to work together and engage football in the AIDS response, particularly among young people.  The collaboration is an unprecedented commitment to carry out joint advocacy and communications activities in regional competitions organized by CONCACAF in support of the UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” campaign.

Futline (Commercial)

Under an arrangement between the organizations, COMEX will provide all Futline products, including marking aerosols and a COMEX Futline-branded carrying belt as required by referees for their use at CONCACAF, Caribbean Football Union and Union of Central American Football matches and training events.  COMEX is the leading manufacturer of paint in Mexico and Central America.

Confederation of African Football (Development)

CONCACAF and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) agreed to share and exchange information for the enhancement of development, club licensing, women’s football, coaches licenses, business administration and event management.  The agreement between the two continental confederations of FIFA calls for an exchange of experts, employees and referees, the sharing of best practices, plus participation in workshops, seminars and events.

At the congress’ opening, President Webb asked all attendees to observe a moment of silence to honor Dominica national team head coach Kurt Hector and national team player Norman Jno Hope, who were killed in a car accident earlier in the day on the Caribbean island.

ABOUT CONCACAF

CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.

Follow CONCACAF on its official Twitter account: @CONCACAF

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EXECUTIVE CLASS

Gulati elected to FIFA Executive Committee

U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati on Friday was elected to the FIFA Executive Committee following a vote at the CONCACAF Congress in Panama City, Panama.

Gulati will serve a four-year term as one of three representatives from the confederation as he defeated Justino Compean of Mexico. CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands), who represents the Caribbean zone, and Rafael Salguero (Guatemala), from Central America, were elected to the Executive Committee as well.

Gulati succeeds another New Yorker, former CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer, who stepped down from that position.

As a result of his new FIFA Executive Committee post, Gulati stepped down from the CONCACAF Executive Committee and was replaced by Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani.

The FIFA Executive Committee is made up of 25 people representing each of the six confederations of FIFA. Chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter, the ExCo meets at least twice a year and serves a variety of functions, including determining the place and dates of the final competitions of FIFA tournaments and the number of teams taking part from each Confederation, appointing FIFA delegates to the International Football Association Board, and electing and dismissing the General Secretary on the proposal of the FIFA President.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to be one of their representatives on the FIFA Executive Committee,” Gulati said in a statement. “The game is growing tremendously in our region both on and off the field, and I hope to do my part to continue to expand the development of the game for both CONCACAF and FIFA.”

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