Ex-Wales captain McAllister to bid for UEFA women’s slot on FIFA Council
CARDIFF: Laura McAllister, a former Wales captain, is being proposed to stand for election by UEFA for the European federation’s women’s place on the council of world federation FIFA.
McAllister has been deputy chair of UEFA’s women’s football committee since 2017 and is a former Sport Wales chair. The role is currently held by Evelina Christillin of France.
McAllister said: “I think I’ve got a contribution to make, knowing the game inside out for women and men.
“Whilst I’ve got a background in women’s football as an ex-player, I’m also very interested and engaged in all aspects of the game, for boys and girls and for men and women.
“So it’s areas like grassroots development, coach education, refereeing, funding, resourcing – all are areas where I think I can make a contribution.
“But I don’t want to present this as being all about me. It would be a tremendous achievement for all of us in Wales if we were to have our first member of FIFA Council. If elected, I’d also be the first woman of any of the British nations to sit on Fifa Council.”
The election of the European members of the FIFA Council is scheduled to take place on 2 March at UEFA Congress. McAllister would become UEFA’s first female member of the Council who has also played at international level.
McAllister, who won 24 caps for Wales from 1994 to 2001, is an experienced sports administrator.
She was Sport Wales chair between 2010 and 2016, and during the same period she was a board member of UK Sport.
McAllister is currently a director of the Football Association of Wales Trust as well as the chair of the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.
FAW ceo Jonathan Ford, said: “I am delighted to put forth Laura McAllister as a candidate in the knowledge that she would be a formidable representative on FIFA Council.
“Laura has excellent credentials with an immense understanding of both the game and governance, and we look forward to supporting her campaign for election.”
FAW statement:
The Football Association is delighted to announce their nomination of Professor Laura McAllister CBE for the position of UEFA’s designated female representative on FIFA Council.
The former Cymru Captain, earning 24 caps between 1994 and 2001, if elected, would become UEFA’s first female member of the FIFA Council that has also played the game at international level.
Laura played a key part in fighting for the recognition of women’s international football at the FAW and has since worked to help develop a stronger pathway for elite female players, as well as helping to expand and strengthen grassroots football for women and girls.
Currently Professor of Public Policy and Governance of Wales at Cardiff University, she has served as Director and Vice Chair of the FAW Trust
Board for over 12 years and since 2016 has held the position of deputy chair of UEFA’s Women’s Football Committee.
Previously Laura was Chair of Sport Wales from 2010 – 2016 and has also been a board member of UK Sport.
On the nomination, Professor Laura McAllister CBE said: “The opportunity to stand for FIFA Council election is a particularly exciting challenge and one I look forward to immensely. My experience and expertise of the game and its governance will hopefully assure colleagues across Europe that I will be the superior candidate to represent them on the council of world football’s governing body.”
The Football Association of Wales CEO, Jonathan Ford added: “I am delighted to put forth Laura McAllister as a candidate in the knowledge that she would be a formidable representative on FIFA Council. Laura has excellent credentials with an immense understanding of both the game and governance, and we look forward to supporting her campaign for election.”
The election of the European members of the FIFA Council is scheduled to take place on 2 March 2021 at UEFA Congress, where the 55 member associations of UEFA will cast their votes.
.
###############
