Friday 13 May 2016 20:40, UK
Senegalese diplomat Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura has been appointed as FIFA's first female secretary general at the annual congress of world football's governing body in Mexico City.
The 54-year-old Samoura has worked for the United Nations since 1995, having led UN humanitarian efforts in Chad and Nigeria.
Subject to passing an eligibility check, Samoura will replace acting secretary general Markus Katttner in mid-June.
"Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time," said new FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
"She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for FIFA, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation."
Samoura's appointment has already been heralded as an important step towards greater diversity and independent thought by close observers of FIFA politics.
"Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FIFA Secretary General," said Samoura in an official statement.
"I believe this role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience - strategic, high impact team-building in international settings - which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.
"I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already under way"
Samoura's first big test is likely to be leading attempts to encourage Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, to do more to improve conditions for the migrant workers building the infrastructure needed in the desert state.
Responding to criticism of FIFA's failure to use its influence to encourage reforms in Qatar, Infantino said: "Of course we care about human rights, but these matters aren't solved by threats, they are solved by dialogue."
The appointment of Samoura has been the only major surprise of Infantino's first annual congress as president, as he has tried to reassure the 1,000 delegates who made the trip to Mexico that the worst of FIFA's problems are behind it.
Last year's congress was completely overshadowed by the arrest of dozens of leading officials on bribery and money-laundering charges, and the threat of further arrests remains as investigations into FIFA are ongoing in Switzerland and the US.
Infantino is only in the throne because Sepp Blatter, who was forced to step down days after being elected for a fifth term last year, has been banned from all football activities, along with his protege, and Infantino's former boss at UEFA, Michel Platini.
