Ornella Desirée Bellia is the Head of Professional Football at FIFA. With an impressive academic background, significant experience in Sports Law and knowledge of several languages, Ornella’s hard work, passion and skillset has guided her through an already impressive career path. Ornella has gained valuable experience within the global sports industry having previously worked for an Italian top-division football club, leading law firms in Brazil, Spain, Italy and the U.K. and now with FIFA in Switzerland. She has specific experience with international transfer agreements, player employment contracts, image rights contracts, sponsorship and licensing agreements.
In academics, Ornella was a lecturer at Sports Law Masters in Spain, Switzerland and Italy, and has been a Guest Speaker at international conferences in Europe and the US. She holds an LL.M in International Sports Law (Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía – Madrid), Negotiation and Leadeship Diploma (Harvard Law School – Boston), and UEFA Women’s Leadership Programme (Diploma – IMD Business School). Ornella has also co-authored the books «Direito do Trabalho e Desporto Vol. II» – published in Brazil and «The FIFA Régulations on Working with Intermediaries. Implementation at National Level». She is a member of the FIFA Players’ Status Sub-Committee and Arbitrator at the Centro Brasileiro de Mediacao e Arbitragem.