The need to protect and promote the best interests of football remains a key objective for FIFA and is firmly rooted in the FIFA statutes, which is the basis of the legal framework for FIFA operations and the governance of the global game.
These statutory provisions include: (a) drawing up regulations and provisions governing the game of football and related matters and ensuring their enforcement; (b) controlling every type of association football by taking appropriate steps to prevent infringements of the Statutes, regulations or decisions of FIFA or of the laws of the game; and (c) promoting integrity, ethics and fair play with a view to preventing all methods or practices, such as corruption, doping or match manipulation, which might jeopardise the integrity of matches, competitions, players, officials and member associations or give rise to abuse of association football.
2019
Formal recognition of professional women’s football status
The status of women players has been integrated in FIFA’s transfer system, making the use of the International Transfer Matching System mandatory for all international transfers of professional players.
Following a two-year period of thorough testing and reporting, a protocol establishing the use of VAR was included in the Laws of the Game, and VAR was successfully implemented at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Creation of the FIFA Foundation
The FIFA Foundation is an independent entity harnessing football’s popularity to promote positive social change: from educational projects to the reconstruction of damaged or destroyed sports infrastructure.
The best-ever FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018
By any measure, the tournament in Russia was an indisputable triumph. A total of 98% of the seats were occupied, 1 million fans travelled to the host country, and around the globe more than 3.5 billion people watched the event.
2020
The groundbreaking programme offers member associations world-class expert analysis to help optimise their technical structures and, ultimately, bridge the gap at the top of the game. By October, over 200 member associations across all confederations had signed up, setting a new benchmark for FIFA initiatives in this area.
FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) joined forces on a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, calling on people around the globe to follow five key steps to limit the spread of the disease. Thirty-eight players were involved in the campaign, which was produced in 16 languages.
The FIFA-Confederations Working Group, established to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, made recommendations on the men’s and women’s international calendars, FIFA competitions, regulatory matters and the creation of a FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund.
FIFA teamed up with both the United Nations (UN) and WHO for the #BeActive campaign to encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Club rivals featured in a promotional video for the campaign.
After spikes in reports of domestic violence with stay-at-home measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, FIFA, the European Commission, and WHO shared the #SafeHome initiative to support women and children at greater risk of experiencing abuse at home
How it works
Professionalisation projects are initiated at the request of a league or club representative. Projects are led and designed by FIFA’s Professional Football Relations and Development Subdivision and are usually carried out in collaboration with FIFA’s Member Associations Division. The latter subdivision adopts an advisory role, assisting with any specific needs presented by the member association and/or any other entity organising the league.
FIFA recognises that every club, league and national association will face its own unique challenges and opportunities, so every project is tailored to the applicant’s specific needs and priorities.
The projects cover a broad range of objectives. For example, some involve the launch of a new league or competition. Other projects focus on improving the infrastructure of existing competitions, and some projects have development-focused goals.
In addition to advising on competition formats and structures, FIFA can assist in developing effective strategies for increasing commercial revenues and contribute to the creation of compelling business plans for leagues, clubs and national associations. These plans are focused on helping them to improve financial stability and maximise their commercial assets, benefiting them and the wider global game. The associations, leagues and clubs that initiate a professionalisation project are able to draw on FIFA’s expertise and experience and its global network of football professionals.
