Auckland City FC President selected for FIFA committee

Auckland City FC President Ivan Vuksich has been selected by world football governing body FIFA to join 27 representatives from around the globe to the new 'Working Group for the International Match Calendar' committee.

Vuksich's selection follows FIFA's Committee for Club Football's recommendation to create a working group representing all of football's stakeholder parties (associations, leagues, clubs and players) in order to draw up the international match calendar for the 2015-2022 period.

Vuksich explains "it's a great honour for the club and for me. I have been on a FIFA committee before and hopefully I can make some contribution again. It's a big place at FIFA and I hope I can add some input from an Oceania club perspective."

The Auckland City FC Presidnet is determined to add value to a committee that includes former West Germany international and two-time European Footballer of the Year, Karl-Heinz Rumminigge.

Vuksich added "the big advantage of being on this committee is the opportunity to make important contacts. You need these contacts and relationships in football and without that you don't go far. You rub shoulders with important people and hopefully that will benefit the clubs in the Oceania region."

The group will meet for the first time in Zurich on 5th March 2012 and will be charged with the task of fixing dates for FIFA's international tournaments, international friendly match windows as well as detailing the arrangements for the players' immediate return to their clubs.

The avowed intention will be to find an acceptable calendar for all involved, not least for the sake of the players' wellbeing. Player insurance and compensation while on international duty and the release of players are also directly related to the international match calendar.

Vuksich, who will represent Oceania's clubs, will be joined on the working group by fellow New Zealanders Tai Nicholas and David Firisua who will represent the interests of the Oceania Football Confederation and its member associations.

Other notable inclusions in the working group include Jerome Valcke FIFA'S Secretary General.

Vuksich was formerly a member of FIFA's World Club Taskforce in 2006 and 2007. This 12 member committee was charged with the task of trying to solve some of the common problems that clubs the world over encounter.