FIFA announced Wednesday that it investmented $200M in development work during '13. South Sudan, FIFA’s newest member association, became the latest beneficiary of FIFA development projects with courses for referees and coaches taking place in Juba in the past two months. Forty-six new Goal projects were approved by FIFA’s Development Committee during '13 for a total of 640 since the creation of the initiative in '98. This year also confirmed the diversification of FIFA’s development programs, with 22 projects for less privileged member associations and two income generation initiatives approved. A further milestone was the approval of the General Regulations for FIFA Development Programmes by the FIFA exec committee in March, which was followed by a general consultation process that started in September in Auckland. FIFA Member Associations & Development Dir Thierry Regenass said, "2013 was a special year since we started a very important process in implementing the new general regulations for development programs. Generally, this year has been about reforms, compliance and transparency, and we have been communicating these changes to our members through seminars, workshops and through our new Member Associations Extranet" (FIFA).
