FIFA is the authorised body to look after the international football, head quartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the French term for International Federation of Association Football is responsible for all major football events and tournaments happeneing around the world. FIFA is the football body with 208 members was founed in paris on May 21, 1904. In th beginning it consisted of only Europen countries, but expanded beyond theboundaries of Europe in 1909, by letting in Argentina and Chilie in 1912. Canada and the U.S. joined FIFA in 1913. FIFA do had to face troubles during the period of World War I, but things were settled in an orderly manner with in short span after the war.

FIFA acts under the Laws of Switzerland as it is head quartered in Zurich. The supreme body of FIFA is the FIFA Congress, an assembly comprising of a representative from each affiliated national federation. As ordinary session of the Congress is held every year and extraordinary sessions takes place as per the rquirements. The FIFA president, secretary-general and the other members of FIFA’s Executive Committee are elected by the Congress, who will manage the daily administration.

FIFA recognizes the best player of the year by awarding him FIFA World Player of the Year. It also takes part actively in the spreading of the game around the world. If found that any associate member organization is not functiong properly, FIFA never shy away from taking action agaist it including suspension.

AFC, the Asia wing of FIFA, is on plans to bring 22 leading associations in Asia aiming to further increase transparency, competition, quality training and a proper league structure with relegation, promotion and a 2nd division, that may result in the expansion of the market for football. FIFA brought out a ruling in 2007 that a player can register with a maximum of three clubswhich stirred controversy. It also took action agaist Iraq national team by suspnding it in May 2008 for government interference with independent national sports authorities.

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SHENYANG, China (AP) _ Germany has already made a big victory on Chinese soil by lifting the women’s football title on an impregnable defense, and is now right on track for another one at the Olympics. The Germans did a magical performance last year at World Cup title in China last year without allowing a single goal in six matches. And again defense has been the key again in the Beijing Games.

Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and her defenders have kept Germany in contention for its first Olympic gold medal. “Last year, we scored 11 goals in the first game and then we had no goals against,” Germany coach Silvia Neid said. She feels as historical and unique, and definitely something that will be very difficult to repeat. The team’s current streak without conceding a goal is at eight matches.

Germany got Brazil on draw 0-0 in its Olympic debut and edged Nigeria 1-0 in its second game, with the winner scored by Kerstin Stegemann, a defender. Angerer was key in both matches, coming up with big saves.

The ace goal keeper was successful in denying FIFA Player of the Year Marta from scoring on Wednesday, and made two crucial stops on one-on-one breakaways against Nigeria on Saturday. “Nadine is one of the most important players in our team,” feels Neid.

Nadine had proved herself last year. She knows to control the ball and to work magically in the box. She is self-motivated and she knows how to encourage the other players. Angerer stopped Marta’s penalty kick in the World Cup final last year, when the Germans were up 1-0 before eventually winning 2-0.

Agerer says that she don’t care if goal comes or not. Her primary concern is winning the match. “My goal is to win the title, not just to not allow goals. I will be just as satisfied if they score four times but we win 5-4.”

Germany will take over North Korea on Tuesday in Tianjin needing a victory or draw to secure a quarterfinal berth. It is second in Group F with four points. Brazil too carries the same number of points but leads on the number of goals scored. North Korea has three points and Nigeria is virtually eliminated with none. The top two teams from each of the three groups plus the best two third-place finishers advance to the second round.

“It will keep us going in the tournament and give us a chance to win the gold medal,” feels Angerer. Germany is now in second place behind the United States in FIFA’s rankings and the defending European champion is yet to play in an Olympic final in women’s football. Since the tournament debut in 1996 in Atlanta, it has grabbed the bronze twice in Sydney in 2000 and in Athens four years ago, losing to Norway and the U.S. in the semifinals, respectively.

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