Washington: An Indian-American could become the next president of the world football federation.
Sunil Gulati, 55, is currently the president of US Soccer Federation. He may replace Sepp Blatter who resigned after heading FIFA for 17 years.
Gulati is currently serving a record third term as US Soccer Federation chief.
Various US media outlets said Gulati has played a key role in the development of soccer in the United States in the past few decades. The Allahabad-born academic could be a potentially strong contender to replace Blatter if the US takes a special interest in the top post of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA, International Federation of Association Football).
Blatter was re-elected only four days ago but resigned after a corruption scandal implicated some top FIFA officials. In a statement, Gulati welcomed the resignation of Blatter as president of FIFA, which has been rocked by a major corruption scandal, resulting in arrest of more than 10 top football officials both in the US and Zurich.
“I commend him for making a decision that puts FIFA and the sport we love above all other interests. This is the first of many steps towards real and meaningful reform within FIFA. Today is an occasion for optimism and belief for everyone who shares a passion for our game,” Gulati said in a statement.
In the elections for FIFA president, Gulati had backed Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein. Gulati and US have been opposed to Blatter.
Detroit Free Press Journal said Gulati is in a strong position to gain support within the confederation that governs soccer in America and the Caribbean.
Gulati has played a role in the development of US Soccer since the early 1980’s and has been closely involved in the rise of the US team to prominence. He served as US Soccer’s Executive Vice President from 2000 to 2006 before stepping into his role as President.
Two years ago, Gulati was elected to a four-year term on the FIFA Executive Committee. In March 2014, he was unanimously re-elected to a record 3rd four year term as US soccer president.
He is also a senior lecturer in the economics department of Columbia University and former president of Kraft Soccer for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.
In 2011 he was recognized and awarded the 2011 Trailblazer Award from the Association of South Asians in Media, Marketing and Entertainment for his outstanding contributions to the world of U.S. sports.
In 2012, Gulati helped form professional women’s soccer league in the US after two previous attempts by others failed.
Gulati’s family moved to Connecticut when he was five years old, and he grew up playing soccer. Gulati is an alumnus of Cheshire High School in Cheshire, Connecticut. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bucknell University and earned his M. A. and M. Phil. in economics at Columbia University. In 1991, he joined the World Bank through its Young Professionals Program and served as country economist for Moldova.
Gulati lives in the New York area with his wife and two children.