CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb "is focusing on building a foundation" for football throughout the region "with emphasis on developing better coaches and referees," according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. CONCACAF "has identified and trained 12 instructors from throughout the confederation to conduct coaching clinics in the region." Webb said, "We've also allocated $1M a year for referee clinics. We want to ensure and give referees the best potential for their growth. We're doing grass-roots programs for all 41 countries within our confederation. There's no secret to development. You start at a young age, and good coaches make good players." In May, Webb, 48, accepted the responsibility of leading FIFA's new Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force. FIFA "has had several embarrassing instances of racism on the pitch and in the stands throughout the world." Webb said, "I really felt that for the players who work hours and hours to dedicate themselves on a professional level and to come to the stadium and to be discriminated in some way was profoundly sad. For many years I felt that the football family had not taken it on the way it should have. I felt it was time that FIFA stepped forward, and we stepped forward to put an end it" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/14).
