Media Release

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

FIFA Strasse 20, P.O Box 8044 Zurich, Switzerland, +41 (0) 43 222 7777

Monday 29 October 2018, 11:14

Caribbean Member Associations gather in Barbados for FIFA Connect Workshop

Football administrators from over 22 Caribbean Member Associations (MAs) have gathered in Barbados this week to take part in a four-day educational workshop on the FIFA Connect Programme – the global players and stakeholders registration online system.

Hosted at the FIFA Regional Development Office in Bridgetown, Barbados, the workshop brought together administrators from across the northern and southern Caribbean to familiarise themselves with the FIFA Connect Platform.

Members from the FIFA Member Associations Division led the interactive workshop and shared their insights into the administration and development benefits of using the FIFA Connect platform – which is offered as a free service to the member associations.

Topics covered during the four-day forum included how amateur and professional clubs, players, coaches and officials in the region can use FIFA Connect to enhance registration numbers and registration efficiency.

The participants also learned that all stakeholders registered using the FIFA Connect registration system will receive a FIFA ID, a unique identification number helping the Clubs and MAs to produce an electronic player passport and thereby trace their stakeholder around the world wherever they may participate in the game.

Speaking at the workshop, Marlon Glean, FIFA Regional Development Manager for the Caribbean, said: “With 22 Member Associations from across the Caribbean attending this week, this workshop provided an important opportunity to engage with administrators from across the region, to educate them on the operational aspects of the FIFA Connect Platform and how it can contribute to achieving their development goals.”

David Sabir, General Secretary of the Bermuda Football Association, said: "This workshop has provided an important and well-organised opportunity for attendees to learn and use the FIFA Connect platform, as well as understanding how it can open up a whole new range of possibilities including increased efficiency in the use of time and human resources.

“The Bermuda FA has always been a strong proponent of electronic registering of players, coaches and referees and, following discussions held with FIFA on the platform back in 2015, the progress being made with other member associations is very pleasing to see.”

Richard Dijkhoff, President of Arubaanse Voetbal Bond, said: “With many member associations attending the workshop this week facing the same challenges with regards to registration, we have learned that FIFA Connect is the solution to many of our daily challenges.

“Having first heard about FIFA Connect during the FIFA Executive Summit in January 2018 and during inauguration of the FIFA Regional Development Office in May 2018, going from paper to digital will make our processes more reliable, faster and easier for everyone.”

For more information about FIFA Connect and to find out how you can register, head HERE.