By Paul Nicholson
July 9 – Sonia Bien-Amie has broken new ground for women’s representation at FIFA becoming the first woman to hold a non-female designated post on the governing body’s executive committee, the top table of world football.
Bien-Aime will represent CONCACAF’s Caribbean Zone as a FIFA Executive Committee member with a full voting rights position. She joins CONCACAF Acting President, Alfredo Hawit, and U.S. Soccer Federation President, Sunil Gulati, on the committee as the confederation’s representatives.
Only one other women holds a voting position on the 24 person committee – Lydia Nsekera of Burundi who holds the women’s football position. Australia’s Moya Dodd was co-opted on to the committee with Bien-Amie in 2013 to represent women’s football issues, but does not have voting rights.
Bien-Aime is President of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association and a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, which took the ground-breaking step of appointing her at a meeting held just before the Women’s World Cup final last weekend.
“Sonia has the full confidence of the CONCACAF Executive Committee and we are delighted for her to represent our Confederation on FIFA’s Executive Committee,” said Alfredo Hawit, Acting President of CONCACAF. “Sonia has demonstrated her significant leadership as a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, and will bring a diverse and fresh perspective to FIFA on how to promote and advance the game around the world.”
Bien-Aime will take up the position vacated by Costa Rican president Eduardo Li who was one of the ‘FIFA Seven’ arrested in Zurich at the end of May. Li was in Zurich for the FIFA Congress and was set to take up his position on FIFA exco for the first time.
The decision by CONCACAF, which was thrown into turmoil by the Zurich arrests, shows a renewed determination by the confederation to lead the world when it comes to promoting change, as well as a commitment to progress and reform, and not just of corrupt practices.
Bien-Amie echoed this saying: “My selection to the FIFA Executive Committee with full voting rights is a ground-breaking decision by CONCACAF that demonstrates our Confederation’s commitment to be forward-thinking and our ability to make bold, yet reasoned, decisions,” said Bien-Aime. “My goal is to represent the best interest of the Confederation, while contributing to the objectives of FIFA as we all take collective strides to develop and grow the game that we love.”
To date Bien-Aime has been focused on women’s football matters at FIFA. She was a member of the organising committees for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She is Deputy Chairwoman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Bien-Aime also serves on CONCACAF’s Gold Cup Committee and Women’s Football Committee as well as being a powerful supporter of the grassroots development of women’s football, including the CONCACAF Under-15 Girls’ Championship. She was a prime mover behind the successful Let’s Develop Women’s Football Seminar, and the first-ever Women’s Football Day held on May 23, 2015.
She will bring a breath of fresh air with her increased voice at FIFA.
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