Fernando Gomes elected new FPF president

Fernando Gomes has been elected as the new president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). He succeeds Gilberto Madaíl, who steps down after a successful 15 years at the helm.

An economics graduate of Porto University, the 59-year-old Gomes is an experienced football official and served FC Porto's management board in several areas, including marketing, commerce and finance. The president of the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP) since June 2010, Gomes was a basketball champion with Porto in the early 1970s – a sport that he also served as president of the Portuguese Basketball League in 1995 and 1996.

Gomes assumes the FPF presidency with the national team qualified for next summer's UEFA EURO 2012 tournament. "This is an important moment for Portuguese football," he said. "Our goal will be to promote Portuguese football, building on the good things that have been achieved in the last 15 years." During that time, Portugal reached the final of UEFA EURO 2004 and the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2000 as well as attaining fourth place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.