FIFA Master 25th anniversary class receive their degree certificates from the President of FIFA, Mr. Gianni Infantino
Friday 18th July 2025 is a date the graduating students from the 25th edition of the FIFA Master will never forget, set against the backdrop of an emotional graduation ceremony held in the historic surroundings of the Grand Council Chamber at the Château de Neuchâtel in the mid-summer sunshine.
In front of parents, friends, representatives from the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), FIFA and the three course partner universities of De Montfort University (Leicester), SDA Bocconi (Milan) and University of Neuchâtel, the President of the CIES Council of Foundation, Mr. Pierre Cornu, warmly welcomed everyone for what would be the final stage of their academic journey in this special anniversary year.
Mr. André Duvillard, President of the Commission LoRo-Sport NE and official representative of the Government of the Canton of Neuchâtel, Mr. Simon Bradbury (Pro Vice-Chancellor International at De Montfort University), Prof. Antonio Palmieri (Official representative from SDA Bocconi School of Management) and Prof. Felix Kessler (Vice-Rector at the University of Neuchâtel) all delivered memorable speeches to the postgraduate students.
They were followed by FIFA Master Alumni Association (FMA) President, Mr. Serge Assume Assume who now welcomed the class to the FMA as its newest members.
Following a brief musical interlude, CIES Director, Prof. Denis Oswald, moved to introduce the special graduation guest and Patron of the 25th Edition – President of FIFA, Mr. Gianni Infantino.
Mr. Infantino’s relationship with the FIFA Master dates back to the course's very inception. Born in Brig (Switzerland), Mr. Infantino studied law at the University of Fribourg. After completing his studies, his first roles were as Legal Advisor and General Secretary of the CIES here in Neuchâtel. This latter position would involve him working closely with the then CIES President, Prof. Jean-Louis Juvet, in helping to create the FIFA Master programme. Without this vital and ground-breaking work, the FIFA Master would not have been born and the lives of so many of our graduates around the world would be very different.
In 2000, Mr. Infantino joined UEFA to work in their legal department eventually rising to become Director of UEFA Legal Affairs. In 2007, he became Deputy Secretary General and then Secretary General in 2009.
A key member of the FIFA Reform Committee, on 26 October 2015 he received the backing of the UEFA Executive Committee to stand for the position of FIFA President during the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress. On the same day, he confirmed his candidacy and was elected as FIFA President in February 2016.
"You have to believe in your dreams and if you believe hard, and if you work hard as well, then these dreams can come true," said the FIFA President. “And this is really the only piece of advice I want to give you today, which you should carry close to your heart for the rest of your life because believing in yourself and, of course, always protecting the sport in which we are [situated], is crucial for leading organisations in the future.” The class could not have wished for a more fitting Patron for this anniversary edition. However, the occasion was made even more special by the fact that Mr. Infantino had been joined at the ceremony by the legendary former Arsenal FC manager and now FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Mr. Arsène Wenger. Again, Mr. Wenger is no stranger to the FIFA Master course as he was Patron for the 20th edition of the Master. With so many lifelong fans – of both the Arsenal men’s and women’s teams in the graduating class – the day could not get any better for the 25th edition students and their families with such VIP’s joining their special day.
The ceremony proceedings next moved onto one of the key moments of the academic year, with the awarding of the FIFA Master degree certificates. Mr. Vincent Schatzmann, CIES General Secretary, called the 25th edition class members individually to receive their diplomas from Prof. Denis Oswald and Mr. Infantino at the front of the Grand Council Chamber.
This was then followed by an important moment in the graduation ceremony proceedings, with the presentation of the "Alberto Madella Award", which rewards the group of students who delivered the best Final Project presentation from the conference events held the previous day. For 2025, the FIFA Master Scientific Committee unanimously agreed that the award should go to Group 6 with the project title, “Regulate, Sanction, or Educate? Examining Governance Measures to Reduce Acute Head Injuries in Elite Contact Sports” which was written and presented by Michael Chiomento (Italy / USA), Lace Hallendorff (South Africa) and Jake Zappia (Australia). Congratulations to Michael, Lace and Jake on this achievement.
A final presentation was then made to Ms. Daniela Huaman (Peru / Spain / UK) who received the Swiss Sport Managers Award from Mr Infantino for graduating with the best overall academic performance across all three of the modules held in Leicester, Milan and Neuchâtel.
Before the ceremony came to a close, the floor was given to Ms. Lace Hallendorff (South Africa) and Mr. Dhananjay Jayaraman (India) who addressed the class, gathered family members and guests who had travelled from around the world to attend the events with an emotional reflection on an academic journey which had started nearly a year before in Leicester with the opening Humanities of Sport module. It provided a moment to reflect on the friendships and bonds which had been firmly established and the memories, new knowledge and skills gained as they begin the next chapter of their lives in the global sports industry.
With the speeches now over, Mr. Pierre Cornu officially closed the 2025 ceremony and invited the new graduates to continue the celebrations with their families and friends by enjoying a cocktail reception in the Château de Neuchâtel courtyard, joined by Mr. Infantino and Mr. Wenger.
CIES, De Montfort University, SDA Bocconi School of Management and the University of Neuchâtel warmly congratulate our newly graduated FIFA Master class and wish you all every success for the future.
FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 12 times by SportBusiness.
Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).
