Governance Structure


Welcome to The International Socca Federation.

The Executive

United Kingdom

David

President

United Kingdom

Pete

Vice President

Greece

Thanos Papadopoulos

Chief Executive Officer

Biography

Thanos Papadopoulos

Thanos Papadopoulos serves as the Chief Executive of the International Socca Federation, bringing over 15 years of experience in sports management and administration to the role.

Under his leadership, the ISF has experienced significant growth, establishing partnerships with major sports organizations and expanding the federation’s global footprint.

Germany

Christoph Köchy

ISF Europe President

Biography

Christoph Köchy

As President of Socca Europe, Christoph Köchy has been instrumental in developing small-sided football across the European continent. His vision has helped establish numerous national federations and strengthen existing ones.

Christoph’s expertise in sports governance and his commitment to grassroots development have made him a key figure in the growth of socca football in Europe.

Senior Staff

England

Kelly Vincent

Chief of Staff & Logistics Director

Germnay

Julia Colter

Events Director

Biography

Julia Colter

As LOC President, Julia is responsible for the organization of the 2023 Socca World Cup in Essen, Germany. Julia is experienced in managing key events and ensures that, at tournament level, everything operates to world class standards.

Greece

Mina Kourtzi

Operations Director

Biography

Mina Kourtzi

With experience as a Project Manager at the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) in Switzerland, As a Senior Account Manager at Libero S&T in Greece, Mina played a pivotal role in executing strategic plans and nurturing client relationships in the events management and sports marketing sector. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in sports business, and holding both an MBA in Sports Management from Seton Hall University in the USA and an MSc in Sports Management/Marketing from the University of Peloponnese in Greece, Mina is well-equipped to contribute to the global sports business landscape. Embarking on her new role as Operations Manager at the International Socca Federation, the governing body of 5, 6, 7, and 8 aside football, Mina is poised to bring her expertise to drive operational excellence and advance the sport worldwide.

Hungary

Krisztina Czeczei

Logistics Manager

Biography

Krisztina Czeczei

Krisztina was one of the main driving forces behind the hugely succesful 2022 Socca World Cup in Budapest, Hungary.

Always a familiar face with teams and fans alike, she has been instrumental in the growth of Socca in Hungary.

Presidential Advisors

Hungary

Tibor Csuhai

Executive

Biography

Tibor Csuhai

Tibor has been involved in 6 a side football for more than 15 years. The development of this sport has always been a primiary motivation for him and his business plans. He holds degrees in both sports management and ecomomics, and hopes to use these to help achieve the enormous potential of 6 a side football in Hungary.

Poland

Wojciech Dudek

Executive

Biography

Wojciech Dudek

Wojciech operates Poland’s largest small-sided leagues organisation and has experience in operating sporting events, marketing them, and technical promotion over a wide range of disciplines in the industry.

Oman

Waleed Al Obaidani

Executive

Biography

Waleed Al Obaidani

Waleed is the founder and CEO of the Sport Makers Company, from the Sultanate of Oman, which considered as one of the most prominent members representing their countries from the Middle East in the International Socca Federation, since its establishment in 2017 and its accession as a representative member of the Sultanate of Oman in the Socca Federation in 2018.

On the Arab Gulf level, Sport Makers is one of the leading companies in activating corporate and amateur sports in the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Gulf states and has a proven track record in managing and organizing local tournaments and international participations representing the Sultanate of Oman in corporate and amateur world championships.

Kazakhstan

Murat Yeleupov

Executive

Biography

Murat Yeleupov

Murat Yeleupov is the head of the Kazakhstan organisation, who have been highly success in Socca, reaching the final of the first ever Socca EuroCup and winning the Socca World Cup in 2023 in Essen.

Mexico

Sergio Ibarra

ISF Americas President

Biography

Sergio Ibarra

Sergio Ibarra leads the development of small-sided football across the Americas as President of Socca Americas. His extensive background in sports administration has been vital in establishing the sport’s presence in the region.

Under his leadership, Socca Americas has seen remarkable growth in participation and the establishment of professional leagues across North and South America.

China

John Yan

Executive

Moldova

Igor Carasiov

Executive

Georgia

Lasha

Tournament Directors

Latvia

Mareks Kere

Tournament Director

Slovenia

Simon Grlec

Deputy Tournament Director

Croatia

Adin Hasic

Assistant Tournament Director

Latvia

Artis Kennis

Assistant Tournament Director

TV Production Team

Croatia

Vedran Prga

Senior TV Production Director

Croatia

Filip

Assistant TV Production

Croatia

Sasha

Assistant TV Production

Croatia

Ivanna

Assistant TV Production

International Contracted Referees

Greece

Kostas Koutsogiannos

Referee

Hungary

Norbert Medve

Referee

Poland

Jakub Orlinski

Referee

Moldova

Oleg Stoianov

Referee

Moldova

Piotr Stoianov

Referee

Greece

Florois Eleftheriou

Romania

Iosif Ciprian Aelenei

Referee

Croatia

Goran Milovannovic

Referee

Slovenia

Iztok Milosic

Referee

Commentary Team

England

Dan Shaw

Senior Commentator

England

Rob Burke

Commentator

England

Martin Hopkins

Commentator

England

Frankie Rudland

Commentator

England

Niall McCaughan

Commentator

Additional Central Staff

Germany

Marc Muller

Teams Director

Romania

Alex Bobeica

Stadium Logistics

England

Laurence Moore

Senior Photographer

Biography

Laurence Moore

A fine photographer and videographer, Laurence was our roving lensman in Lisbon and Crete, heading up our dedicated team of cameramen. His wonderful eye for composition and his eye for the innovative angle, means his work compels. He went to Crete for two weeks before the World Cup in order to get a real flavour for the event and to watch the stadium being built, really being able to tell the story of the tournament.

Greece

Michalis Vyzirakis

Stadium Director

Biography

Michalis Vyzirakis

Michalis Vyzirakis comes from a construction background, and has been responsible for the construction of every Socca World Cup stadium to date, including the challenging erections on the beach in Crete 2019, and in the main square in Lisbon in 2018.

England

Howard Bentham

Presenter

Biography

Howard Bentham

Howard Bentham is a renowned stadium announcer, presenter, reporter, and voiceover artist in the UK. He has acted as stadium announcer at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games as well as the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup and 2002 Commonwealth Games. He is the lead announcer for a range of sports in the UK including hockey, rugby, badminton, cricket and rowing. Bentham has also won a number of awards for his radio work.

England

Tayyab Rasheed

IT Manager

Biography

Tayyab Rasheed

Tayyab Rasheed is our IT manager who is responsible for keeping the website up to date with everything that is happening in the world of Socca!

Poland

Tomasz Kosek

Graphic Designer

Greece

Michalis Hountoumadis

Tribunes Manager

Biography

Michalis Hountoumadis

Michalis Hountoumadis is our Tribunes Manager.

REMEMBRING

Remembering those we have Lost

Doctor Richard Johnson

ISF Chief Medical Officer, Dr Richard Johnson, also Chief Surgeon at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, passed away following a long battle with cancer during the Socca World Cup in Budapest in 2022.

John Gwynne

ISF Senior Commentator John Gwynne, also of Sky Sports and legendary ITV darts commentator, passed away in 2021. John commentated with Ron Atkinson on the ISF final in both Lisbon 2018 and Crete 2019.

Structure

Governance Structure

The ISF consists of the President, who is supported by a President's Board who assist the President and Chief Executive Officer to make strategic decisions.