RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Macri, who was President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019 and mayor of Buenos Aires before that, has not only had a political but also a footballing career. From 1995 to 2007 he was president of Boca Juniors. During this time, the hugely popular soccer club won seventeen titles, eleven of them at international level.
The FIFA Foundation is still in its infancy. It was established in 2018 as an independent institution to support FIFA’s social causes. World Champion Youri Djorkaeff is the managing director and manages the US$100 (R$420) million Football for School project.
In addition, donations of approximately US$1 billion will be added for educational programs, collected from sponsors around the world.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Chairman of the FIFA Board of Trustees, said: “Mauricio has the ideal profile to lead this project, which aims to place football at the service of society. Through his experience at the head of a great nation, he is aware of the central role that education plays in the future of our society”.
Mauricio Macri was able to return the praise accordingly: “I thank President Infantino for the trust he has placed in me and the opportunity to commit myself to the three things that I hold most dear: education, football and youth, and their prospects for a better future.”
The former head of government also referred to his achievements during his presidency of the G20, when he mentioned the importance of football for millions of children, who “benefit from it in their professional lives and throughout their lives by learning team spirit, discipline and respect. Football also helps to tackle complex problems such as violence, drug abuse and obesity”.
At the closing of his speech, he bowed and said: “This nomination is also in honor of Argentina, which has contributed and continues to contribute so much to this great sport: great legends, historic sporting events and fans who generate enthusiasm all over the world”.
In Argentina, many may not agree with him, and even the Argentine Football Association (AFA) was outraged, describubg Macri’s appointment as “inappropriate”. The current president of Boca Juniors, Jorge Amor Ameal, clearly stated: “The FIFA leaders should first consult with the AFA leaders. I don’t agree with the appointment, political leaders should engage in politics and FIFA is not a consolation prize”.
Even more clearly and to the point, former Minister of Sport Claudio Morresi said: “The FIFA Foundation’s Community Support Program organizations use football as a tool for social change to improve the lives of young people. How irresponsible of FIFA to appoint this president, who has led 60 percent of Argentina’s youth into poverty”.