08.07.2015 21:07 h

CONCACAF names woman to FIFA exco

The scandal-tainted governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) on Wednesday named female official Sonia Bien-Aime to sit on FIFA's executive committee, replacing arrested Costa Rican chief Eduardo Li.

A statement from CONCACAF said Turks & Caicos football association president Bien-Aime had been chosen to sit in a voting position on the FIFA exco.

The appointment comes as CONCACAF seeks to clean up its image after several of its officials were rocked by the US-led probe into global football corruption.

Costa Rican football chief Li had been due to take up CONCACAF's place on the FIFA executive committee but was suspended after being arrested in dawn raids in Zurich in May.

Li, like CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, is currently in jail in Switzerland facing extradition to the United States on charges of racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy.

"Sonia has the full confidence of the CONCACAF Executive Committee and we are delighted for her to represent our Confederation on FIFA's Executive Committee," said Alfredo Hawit, acting president of CONCACAF in the absence of the suspended Webb.

"Sonia has demonstrated her significant leadership as a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, and will bring a diverse and fresh perspective to FIFA on how to promote and advance the game around the world."

Bien-Aime joins fellow CONCACAF officials Hawit, and US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati on the global governing body's executive committee.