The 45th Congress of the International Committee for the Sport of the Deaf (ICSD) took place in Khanty-Mansiysk on March 27, 2015, with delegates from 60 countries in attendance.
Founded in 2011 in Sweden, the Deaf International Football Association (DIFA) achieved a significant milestone in 2015 when it was officially recognized as an associated member of the ICSD during the Congress in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. This recognition positioned DIFA as the global governing body for deaf football.
Governance and Structure
DIFA’s highest authority is its Congress, which convenes every four years. The Congress is responsible for amending the DIFA Charter and Procedural Rules, approving the governing bodies’ annual reports, admitting new members, and conducting elections.
Elections for the DIFA President and other officials are held by secret ballot, with each member federation, irrespective of its size or number of players, entitled to one vote.
Between Congress meetings, DIFA’s operations are managed by its Executive Committee. This committee comprises the President, First Vice President, two Vice Presidents, and six additional members.
The administrative operations are led by the Secretary General, who is based at DIFA headquarters in Moscow, Russia. The Secretary General’s primary role is to implement Congress and Executive Committee decisions, which involves preparing documents, coordinating media relations, and liaising with national federations. The secretariat also addresses issues related to football development, competitions, finances, staffing, and communications.
Membership Benefits and Responsibilities
Membership in DIFA offers national federations organizational and legal support, as well as rights and privileges. However, it also requires members to uphold the DIFA Charter, share its goals, and actively promote deaf football in line with DIFA’s values and standards.
Legal and Disciplinary Framework
DIFA maintains independent legal and disciplinary bodies, governed by its Disciplinary Code. Members of these committees, appointed by the Executive Board for renewable four-year terms, operate independently of national federations and other DIFA committees. They cannot receive instructions from any external body.
Development Programs
DIFA’s development programs for deaf football and futsal include:
• Collaborating with the ICSD, FIFA, and their regional confederations.
• Establishing and enhancing football/futsal infrastructure for the deaf.
• Organizing World and Regional Championships for senior and youth players, as well as Deaflympics qualifications.
• Conducting referee clinics for deaf football.
• Promoting football and futsal in national deaf sports federations.
• Hosting seminars to develop deaf coaches and administrative staff.
• Organizing youth football camps for deaf girls and boys, incorporating education on doping, fair play, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and other social topics.
