FIFA Security Division holds educational seminar

The FIFA Security Division has its hands full. Not only did its recent establishment come at a time when match-fixing was a bigger threat than ever, but also with two major competitions it must oversee - the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup™ - just around the corner. With that in mind, the FIFA Security Division held a workshop in Zurich on 24 and 25 October aimed at bringing over 25 FIFA Security Officers up to date on its new responsibilities, the new FIFA Stadium Security and Safety Regulations (which must be approved by the FIFA Executive Committee in December) and further educating them on the fight to combat match-fixing. The seminar was led by FIFA Security Director Ralf Mutschke, the head of the FIFA Security Division, who began his new role on 1 June after previously working as the chief of the CID operational services subdivision of the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA) and as an INTERPOL director. It was kicked off by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, who recently travelled with Mutschke to Brazil to establish security plans for the forthcoming FIFA Confederations Cup and FIFA World Cup. I’m very pleased and satisfied with the dedication and engagement of the FIFA Security Officers. Ralf Mutschke, FIFA Security Director After hearing about the new FIFA Stadium Security and Safety Regulations, the FIFA Security Officers were then educated on various competition-relevant topics such as venue operations centres, safest maximum capacity, crowd management, fire and terrorism issues, and stewards. “FIFA Security Officers’ preparation for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil has started,” Mutschke said. “Safety and security of spectators, players, officials, media and staff are crucial to FIFA, such as protecting the integrity of football. Training of FIFA Security Officers on the new FIFA Stadium Security and Safety and Integrity has begun. I’m very pleased and satisfied with the dedication and engagement of the FIFA Security Officers.” Furthermore, Mutschke discussed the FIFA Security Division’s latest developments in the fight against match-fixing and advised them to be alert to any suspicious occurrences. Finally, he explained that regional seminars would be organised in order to brief all of FIFA’s 209 Member Associations and that the FIFA Security Officers would be asked to assist as instructors in these. From FIFA