FIFA, CARICOM enter landmark agreement
FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino (L) and CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, following the signing of their MoU.
FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino (L) and CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, following the signing of their MoU.

FOOTBALL’s global governing body, FIFA, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration.

The agreement is aimed at promoting integrity in sports and social responsibility while furthering the development of football in the region.

The landmark agreement was signed by CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, at a virtual ceremony attended by the presidents of the national football associations of CARICOM countries, Ministers of government and representatives of the countries, as well as Concacaf president, Victor Montagliani.

“We are delighted to enter into this agreement with the Caribbean Community, the aim of which is to leverage our sport as a catalyst for social development in the region,” Infantino said.

Football, according to the FIFA president, “has an incredible following in the Caribbean and there is still great potential for additional growth. I am very happy to see that the countries understand the opportunities this brings in terms of social benefits for their communities and we are looking forward to working hand in hand with them around this common goal.”

“I very much welcome this MoU and the partnership with FIFA,” said CARICOM Secretary General.

LaRocque said “many of our Member States have established developmental programmes using sports as a transformative agent. The social, health and economic benefits of sport are well appreciated and supported in our Region. The partnership with organisations such as FIFA assists in furthering our goals of encouraging our youth, in particular, to pursue healthy lifestyles while enjoying the benefits of a sport like football.”

Concacaf president and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani, noted that the integrity of sport, and football in particular, is a top priority for FIFA and Concacaf, while stressing that the partnership “will benefit the whole Caribbean region and support us in our extensive efforts to develop the game at all levels.”

The MoU focuses on several key areas of collaboration, in particular the implementation of a football programme in the physical education curricula in primary schools in the CARICOM region.

FIFA, together with its member associations, will provide support for the development of football training, competitions and the training of football coaches, officials and administrators, along with physical education teachers.

Other key focus areas of the agreement include measures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults involved in football activities, the fight against match manipulation and the promotion of sports integrity and social responsibility.

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