New Zealander Sarai Bareman to head FIFA's new Womens Football Division

World football governing body FIFA has appointed Sarai Bareman as its first ever Chief Women’s Football Officer.

The New Zealander will head up the newly created Women’s Football Division, reporting directly to FIFA Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban, and will be part of the FIFA Management Board.

Bareman, the former Chief Executive of the Samoan Football Association and a former player on the Samoan women’s national team, has also held executive roles at the Oceania Football Confederation including being the confederation’s Deputy Secretary General.

New Zealand Football President Deryck Shaw said Bareman is a role model and has done much to promote and develop football across the wider Oceania confederation.

Shaw stated “she is a skilled communicator and has very effective relationships with all Oceania members and in particular the Presidents.

“Her knowledge of the development of women’s football has been unprecedented and I know that she will serve FIFA and in particular women’s football well in future years. In particular, we acknowledge the work that Sarai has been involved with around the FIFA reforms and the programmes to develop women in all elements of the beautiful game.”

Building on FIFA’s commitment to further support and promote the development of women’s football as well as women in football, Bareman brings a background in finance and football administration to her new role.

As the only female member of FIFA’s 2016 Reform Committee, she was a strong advocate for change within the organisation, in particular calling for concrete requirements on women in leadership positions at FIFA, which came into force following unanimous approval at the Extraordinary FIFA Congress in February 2016.

Bareman will take up her new role on 14th November.

Image of Sarai Bareman courtesy of FIFA.

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