Ex-Croatian international Boban becomes FIFA official

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA on Monday named former Croatian international Zvonimir Boban as a deputy secretary general as part of its reform process to redeem its tainted image.

Boban, who played 48 times for Yugoslavia and Croatia, will take charge of football affairs as the world body divides up its administration into business and sporting divisions.

On top of his footballing achievements, 47-year-old Boban became a Croatian hero when he kicked a Yugoslav policeman attacking a fan during a Dinamo Zagreb-Red Star Belgrade match in 1990. The act of defiance came just before Croatia’s independence war. 

Since retiring in 2002, Boban has acquired a history degree from the University of Zagreb and become a football pundit for Croatian media.

Marco Villiger, FIFA’s head of legal affairs will be deputy secretary general for its business side.

Boban and Villiger will assist Fatma Samoura who will start on June 20 as the organisation’s first woman secretary general.