FIFA set to name first woman as secretary general

FIFA could name today a woman as its secretary general for the first time in the history of world football’s governing body, according to a source close to the organisation.

FIFA’s new president Gianni Infantino, who was elected in February, indicated recently that he would wait until summer to name his number two but the announcement could come during a congress in Mexico City.

“The name of the new secretary general should be announced today (Friday) and this new secretary general should be a woman who is not European,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The former secretary general, Jerome Valcke of France, was sacked in January and banned from football for 12 years over misconduct in television deals and World Cup ticket sales -- one of the many scandals that hit FIFA.

Germany’s Markus Kattner has been serving as interim secretary general since then.

The FIFA congress is due to confirm a series of reforms aimed at cleaning up the organization, which Infantino took over from Sepp Blatter in February after his disgraced Swiss compatriot resigned.