Four Filipino sports executives were appointed by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as members of its key committees, boosting Filipino leadership in the world’s governing body for football.
The Filipino officials appointed are Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez (FIFA Futsal Committee member), PFF Executive Committee Member from the Visayas Atty. Renee Songalia (FIFA Beach Soccer Committee member), and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. (Adjudication Chamber member of the FIFA Ethics Committee).
Meanwhile, FIFA Council Member and former PFF President Mariano V. Araneta was appointed as Council Delegate to the FIFA Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee.
The appointments were made during the 33rd meeting of the FIFA Council in Zurich, Switzerland on October 2, 2025.
Former PFF Pres. Araneta to Anti-Racism Committee
Current FIFA Council Member and former three-term PFF President Araneta was designated as Council Delegate to the FIFA Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee.
As former PFF President, Mr. Araneta helped pave the way for better inclusivity and stronger solidarity among FIFA members and the global football community.
“Mr. Araneta’s appointment to the FIFA Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee reflects his enduring commitment to fairness, inclusion, and unity in football,” said incumbent PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez about his predecessor. “His leadership continues to inspire not only the Philippine football community but also our shared pursuit of equality and respect across the global game.”
Pres. Gutierrez to FIFA Futsal Committee
The appointment of President Gutierrez to the FIFA Futsal Committee came a month ahead of the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup hosted by the Philippines from November 21 to December 7, 2025 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“I am deeply honored to represent the Philippines in the FIFA Futsal Committee, especially at a time when our nation is hosting the historic first FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup,” said President Gutierrez.
“This recognition reflects PFF’s continuing commitment to grow futsal from the grassroots level in Filipino communities and to help elevate the sport’s global profile through our hosting efforts,” he continued.
Elected by the PFF Congress in November 2023, among President Gutierrez’s first highlights in his administration is the Philippines’ hosting of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, which FIFA and PFF announced in May 2024.
The buildup to the event began in November 2024, with the Philippines hosting the inaugural ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship, followed by the year-long staging of nationwide tryouts and talent identification in 2025.
As a result, the Philippine women’s national futsal qualified to the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup for the first time, earning seven points in the qualifiers and dealing the erstwhile defending two-time Asian champion Iran just a narrow 1-0 win in the finals.
Under President Gutierrez’s leadership, PFF and the FIFA Local Organizing Committee (LOC) were able harness support from both private and public sectors, with the Philippine government forming an Inta-Agency Task Force chaired by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to assist the hosting of the World Cup.
“Futsal plays a vital role in developing young players’ technical skills and love for the game, especially in communities where space and resources are limited,” President Gutierrez added. “By promoting futsal nationwide, we are not only widening the base of football participation but also creating more pathways for Filipino talent to shine on the international stage.”
Attys. Songalia, Iroy to various FIFA committees .
PFF Executive Committee Member for the Visayas Atty. Songalia was appointed as a member of the FIFA Beach Soccer Committee.
A lawyer specializing in international and commercial laws, as well as a Cebu-based club player, Atty. Songalia is the General Secretary of the Cebu Regional Football Association and is overseeing the development of the sport in one of the country’s football hotbeds.
President Gutierrez welcomed the appointment of Atty. Songaila, saying that “this is timely because developing beach football in the Philippines is a natural fit given the country’s abundance of scenic coastlines, providing ideal venues for the sport’s growth.
“Developing beach football can also help boost sports tourism, attracting both local and international visitors to the nation’s shores,” President Gutierrez added.
Meanwhile, PFF Electoral Committee Chair and PSC Executive Director Atty. Iroy was named as a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee Adjudicatory Chamber.
A former national team player and an experienced official specializing in sports discipline, Atty. Iroy served in the ethics and disciplinary committees of both the Asian Football Confederation and ASEAN Football Federation before his appointment to FIFA.
The FIFA Adjudicatory Chamber has the power to review the reports of the Investigatory Chamber and decide whether a case before the Ethics Committee should be proceeded or dismissed.
President Gutierrez underscored the significance of these appointments, saying that “Sir Nonong, Atty. Songalia, and Atty. Iroy reflect the growing respect for Filipino leadership in world football and strengthen our shared mission to advance integrity, inclusivity, and development across all forms of the game.”
