President's Message

FIFS President's Message

A New Era for Football Skating

Dear athletes, coaches, referees, federation leaders, government representatives, educational institutions, international partners, sponsors, and members of the global Football Skating family,

It is both an honor and a profound responsibility to serve as President of Federation International Football Skating (FIFS).

My journey in Football Skating has never been based on imitation. I have always believed that a sport can only earn a meaningful place in the international community when it develops its own identity, its own systems, its own standards, and its own vision for the future.

I do not believe in copying what already exists. I believe in creating what does not yet exist.

This philosophy has guided every stage of my leadership: from building international structures and modernizing the Laws of the Game, to developing education systems for coaches and referees, creating new disciplines, organizing World Cups, supporting national federations, designing dedicated equipment, and establishing new development pathways for children, schools, universities, clubs, and national teams.

Our objective is not simply to preserve Football Skating. Our objective is to transform it into one of the most modern, innovative, accessible, and internationally respected sports of the future.

From an Idea to an International Movement

Football Skating has a long historical foundation, but its modern international development required structure, leadership, education, regulation, and a clear global direction.

In 2014, I founded the Footinz International Federation, together with Almir Falcão as Co-Founder and Vice President. This marked an important institutional step toward the international organization and development of FUTINS.

In 2017, I established Federation International Football Skating as a broader and unified international governing structure capable of bringing together different Football Skating disciplines within one global federation.

Since then, we have worked to move the sport beyond isolated activity and toward a complete international system.

Under this structure, FIFS now develops and governs:

• FUTINS
• RollerSoccer
• Ice Football Skating
• Freestyle Football Skating

Each discipline has its own identity, technical direction, competition potential, and international development pathway, while all remain united under one federation and one long-term global vision.

Innovation as a Core Principle

Innovation is not an optional part of our federation. It is part of our identity.

During my presidency, we began modernizing the refereeing and coaching systems of Football Skating so they would respond to the real technical requirements of our sport rather than simply follow the systems of football or other related disciplines.

We introduced physical and online international education pathways for coaches and referees, creating access for participants from different countries and continents.

Today, more than one thousand coaches and more than one thousand referees have received official international education and certification through this development structure.

We also initiated the development of a dedicated size 5.5 Football Skating ball so that our sport could compete with equipment created for its own speed, movement, technical characteristics, and playing environment.

We have designed new competition structures, new education systems, new youth pathways, and new international disciplines.

Not imitation, but originality. Not temporary activity, but institution building. Not limited participation, but global access.

A Sport for Schools, Universities, Clubs and Nations

My vision is for Football Skating to become a natural part of modern physical education and youth development.

I want children to discover this sport in schools. I want universities to establish official teams, leagues, education programs, and research opportunities around it. I want clubs and academies to build structured development pathways for athletes, coaches, and referees. I want national federations to receive international guidance, technical systems, education, affiliation, and institutional support.

From 2026 to 2028, we are encouraging schools around the world to begin establishing Football Skating programs and preparing their students for future competition.

In 2028, we plan to organize the first Schools Open Football Skating World Cup, allowing qualified schools to participate as independent school-based club teams.

This model is designed to give more children, more schools, and more countries a real opportunity to enter the international sport system.

Our ambition is not to create an elite sport that belongs only to a small number of countries. Our ambition is to create a global sport that can be taught, practiced, and developed wherever there is commitment, vision, and institutional support.

Expanding the Disciplines of the Future

The future of Football Skating will not be limited to one competition format.

We are developing multiple disciplines so that athletes with different abilities, environments, and creative strengths can find their place within the sport.

The FUTINS discipline remains the central discipline of the Football Skating World Cup and will be at the heart of our major international event in 2027.

The RollerSoccer discipline will continue to expand through club-based international development, leading toward the planned Football Skating Club World Cup in 2029.

The newly developed Ice Football Skating discipline introduces a distinctive competitive structure, unique rules, and an original playing concept designed specifically under FIFS. Its first World Cup is planned for 2028.

The new Freestyle Football Skating discipline will create an international platform for technical creativity, control, performance, expression, and competition. Its first international open tournament is also planned for 2028.

Through these disciplines, we are creating a federation capable of combining competition, creativity, technology, education, entertainment, and youth culture.

Building Historic International Events

International events are not only competitions. They are platforms for diplomacy, culture, education, media, tourism, investment, national pride, and global cooperation.

In November 2024, under my leadership, FIFS organized the largest Football Skating event held in the modern history of the sport.

That event also included the first official Junior Football Skating World Cup, where Türkiye finished as champion, Egypt achieved second place, and Ghana earned third place.

From that moment, junior competition became an essential part of our long-term World Cup structure.

Our next major objective is the Football Skating World Cup 2027.

This event is being designed to become the largest event in the history of Football Skating, bringing together approximately 32 to 48 countries and including both senior and junior competitions within the FUTINS discipline.

Our vision extends beyond the field of play. The event is planned to include:

• international competition
• a commercial and cultural exhibition
• technical and educational programs
• international media and television participation
• government and institutional engagement
• sponsor and brand activation
• VIP and VVIP programs
• a closing festival
• live entertainment and music
• a major final celebration

We intend to invite international media, television networks, global institutions, distinguished sport leaders, and representatives connected to Guinness World Records.

Our goal is to create an event that demonstrates the full potential of Football Skating to the world.

A Message to Governments and Ministries

To Ministries of Sport, National Olympic Committees, municipalities, schools authorities, universities, and government institutions: FIFS is ready to cooperate with you.

We are prepared to support the introduction, legal establishment, technical organization, education, and national development of Football Skating in your country.

We understand that every country has its own laws, institutional systems, sporting priorities, cultural environment, and development needs. Our approach is not to impose one rigid model. Our approach is to build the right model together.

Where countries are ready to establish official national structures, FIFS and its operational partner, IPTC - International Professional Training Certification, can provide guidance in areas such as:

• national federation development
• coach and referee education
• technical regulations
• affiliation pathways
• school and university programs
• competition organization
• equipment standards
• youth development
• international participation

I give my personal assurance that I will not withhold support from any country that genuinely wishes to develop Football Skating responsibly and professionally.

A Message to National Federations and Leaders

To our national federations, affiliated bodies, country representatives, and future members: You are not simply local representatives of an international name. You are builders of the sport in your countries.

Your responsibility is to create sustainable national systems, educate people correctly, protect the identity of the sport, form clubs and teams, organize competitions, and create opportunities for the next generation.

FIFS will support active, transparent, and responsible national structures. At the same time, every national body must respect international standards, official regulations, institutional reporting, and the authority of the federation.

A federation becomes strong not by the number of names on a list, but by the quality, integrity, and activity of its members.

A Message to Board Members and Committees

To the members of our Board, Executive and Management structures, discipline leaders, committee chairpersons, and international officials: Leadership within FIFS is not a ceremonial title.

It is a commitment to work, responsibility, unity, and measurable contribution.

Every position must serve the sport. Every appointment must carry a clear mandate. Every committee must produce real value.

I expect our leaders to protect FIFS, support its international direction, maintain professional communication, respect confidentiality, avoid unauthorized representation, and contribute actively to development.

At the same time, I remain committed to recognizing genuine expertise and giving qualified professionals the opportunity to contribute to the future of the federation.

The strength of our leadership will be measured by what we build together.

A Message to Coaches and Referees

To every coach and referee working within Football Skating: You are among the most important guardians of the sport.

Coaches shape athletes, teams, discipline, confidence, and sporting culture. Referees protect fairness, safety, credibility, and the integrity of competition.

Our responsibility is to ensure that both groups receive professional education, current technical information, practical experience, international certification, and clear development pathways.

We will continue expanding physical and online education, annual updates, advanced qualifications, and international-event opportunities.

A modern sport cannot develop with outdated education. Our coaches and referees must grow at the same speed as the sport itself.

A Message to Athletes and Young People

To our athletes, especially the young generation: You are the reason we are building this future.

Football Skating offers you more than competition. It develops courage, balance, speed, creativity, teamwork, technical intelligence, discipline, and self-belief.

Some of you will become national-team athletes. Some will become world champions. Some will become coaches, referees, managers, inventors, event leaders, or future presidents of federations.

Our duty is to create the pathway. Your duty is to believe in your potential and work for it.

The sport belongs to every young person willing to learn, train, improve, and compete with respect.

A Message to Companies, Sponsors and Strategic Partners

To companies, investors, media organizations, technology providers, manufacturers, educational partners, and sponsors: Football Skating represents a rare opportunity to participate in the development of a modern international sport while its global structure is still expanding.

This sport connects:

• youth
• education
• innovation
• entertainment
• technology
• equipment
• digital media
• international events
• tourism
• social development

Partners who join us are not merely placing a logo on an event. They can become part of the international development history of a new global sport.

We welcome partners who share our ambition, respect our institutional structure, and are prepared to create long-term value.

Toward the Olympic Future

One of my greatest ambitions is to see Football Skating become a recognized and respected part of the international Olympic sport movement.

This objective requires more than hope. It requires:

• strong national federations
• international participation
• unified technical rules
• professional governance
• athlete-development systems
• global competitions
• women’s participation
• youth programs
• anti-doping and integrity structures
• education and certification
• media visibility
• long-term institutional credibility

We are building these foundations step by step.

The journey may be long, but every major international sport began with vision, persistence, and people who refused to accept that the future had already been decided.

I believe Football Skating has the energy, creativity, global appeal, and sporting potential to become one of the important sports of future generations.

My Commitment to the World

My message to every country is clear:

Where there is genuine interest, we will listen.

Where there is commitment, we will support.

Where there is potential, we will help it grow.

Where there are obstacles, we will work to find solutions.

I will continue to dedicate my experience, international relationships, creativity, leadership, and energy to the development of Football Skating.

I will support countries that wish to establish the sport. I will support institutions that wish to educate young people. I will support athletes who seek international opportunities. I will support coaches and referees who wish to improve. I will support responsible federations that are prepared to build. I will support partners who believe in innovation and global development.

I will not allow Football Skating to remain limited by old thinking, weak structures, or a lack of imagination.

Our future must be created, not copied.

One Vision, One Federation, One Global Future

We have already moved from an idea to an international federation. We have moved from informal activity to structured education. We have moved from one competition format to multiple disciplines. We have moved from limited events to senior, junior, school, ice, freestyle, and club competition pathways. We have moved from using general equipment to creating our own technical identity.

But our greatest work is still ahead of us.

Together, we will build a sport that is present in schools, universities, clubs, national federations, international championships, major media platforms, and, one day, the Olympic Games.

I invite every athlete, coach, referee, leader, government, school, university, company, and country to become part of this journey.

Let us create the future of Football Skating together.

Dr. Mehdi Salman Pour

President

Federation International Football Skating - FIFS