Kurt Gassmann | |
|---|---|
| Secretary General of FIFA | |
| In office 1951 (1951) – 1960 (1960) | |
| Preceded by | Ivo Schricker |
| Succeeded by | Helmut Käser |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1891-05-21)21 May 1891 Bern, Switzerland |
| Died | 24 July 1964(1964-07-24) (aged 73) |
Kurt Gassmann (21 May 1891 – 24 July 1964) was a Swiss jurist and sports official who served as Secretary General ofFIFA (1951–1960).
Gassmann, born in 1891 inBern, started his career in sports as a football player forFC Biel, and later became the General Secretary of theSwiss Football Association (SFA) in 1916, a role he held for about 16 years until 1942. During his tenure, he was instrumental in organizing various football events and was later honored as an honorary member of the SFA in 1945.[1]
Gassmann's involvement with theSwiss Olympic Committee (COS) began in 1923. He played a crucial role in organizing the1948 Winter Olympics inSt. Moritz, the first Winter Games afterWorld War II. Despite the challenges of organizing the event in post-war Europe, his meticulous planning and organizational skills ensured its success, earning praise from theInternational Olympic Committee for being one of the best-organized games.[1]
In addition to his work with theOlympics, Gassmann also served as the General Secretary ofFIFA from 1951 to 1960.[2] During his tenure, he oversaw the organization of the1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. His administrative skills and detailed approach significantly shaped the operations of FIFA during a formative period for the organization.[1] However, he opposedUEFA's proposal to hold aEuropean competition in the same year as the World Cup, fearing it would compete with FIFA's tournament and affect its revenue. He suggested scheduling the European competition's knockout phase two years before and the final tournament one year before the World Cup, and recommended separating its stages from those of the World Cup.[3]
