Bhaichung to represent Asia in FIFPro Technical Committee

GANGTOK, 13 Nov: Indian Football Icon Bhaichung Bhutia has been selected to serve on the Technical Committee of FIFPro, the World Body for Players for a term of 4 years starting from 11 November 2013. He is the only representative from Asia in the six-man committee that has 3 from Europe, and one each from Asia, Africa and South America, informs a press release from Football Players Association of India (FPAI).
Bhaichung is the president of the FPAI which was founded in 2006. The basic objective of FPAI is to look after players’ rights and their safety. Besides, he is also the Chairman of the Technical Committee, of the All India Football Federation.
Honorary Secretary General of the FPAI, Jahan Mehta, conveys through the press release that, “This appointment is a boost for Indian Football and is a culmination of the work, dedication and contribution put in by Bhutia, over so many years. It is a great honor”.
FIFPro is the worldwide representative organisation for professional football players. FIFPro, with its headquarters in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, is made up of all the Players Associations from all countries of the world. FIFPro's mission is to support players and is the exclusive collective international voice of the World’s Professional Footballers. Players such as Xavi, Puyol, Casillas, Drogba, Owen, Beckham, Kewell and Nakata, are just a few, among many, who support their respective countries Players Unions.
The major issues that the Technical Committee of FIFPro will be dealing with are player safety, weather and playing conditions, types of playing pitches/surfaces, rules changes in the game of football affecting players and many other matters where FIFPro works for the benefit of players. They work closely with FIFA on all issues affecting players.
Apart from Bhaichung, other members of the Technical Committee are Geremi Njitap [Cameroon], Simon Barker [England], Vladimir Leonchenko [Russia], Jose Milton Melgar [Bolivia] and Gernot Zirngast [Austria].
“The appointment comes with the success and work that Bhaichung has put in to develop the Football Players Association of India. It is a great achievement for an Indian to be the only representative from Asia on the World Committee. We wish him all the best in this role over the next 4 years”, the release adds.
United Sikkim Football Club senior manager, Arjun Rai has also stated that the appointment of the club co-owner and CEO, Bhaichung for such a prestigious post is a proud moment for the whole club. On behalf of the club, Mr Rai has congratulated Bhaichung on the new responsibilities he will shoulder and expressed his best wishes for the same.