Welsh candidate misses Fifa role
A WELSH candidate was barred from becoming Europe’s first female Fifa member because of unforeseen regulations.
Professor Laura McAllister, highly respected in Welsh sporting and political circles and a former captain of the Wales women’s team, was told she is not eligible to stand for the newly-created prestigious post on Fifa’s powerful ruling council.
Fifa has decided to bring women on board as part of their ongoing reform, following a welter of criticism about the antiquated way in which it is run.
Professor McAllister, of Bridgend, put her name forward as one of two European candidates for the Board role, the other being Italy’s Evelina Christillin.
However, she has had to withdraw from the running after it transpired Uefa rules don’t permit a British candidate.
The home nations al- ready have a regular Fifa vice-president on Fifa council, the body that makes the key strategic decisions on world football, through historical reasons.
That position is currently held by England’s David Gill.
It has come to light Uefa’s rules state that because of that privileged position, which dates back to 1946, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland cannot put forward any other candidate, including Professor McAllister.
The Uefa regulations are in force even though other countries are permitted to nominate a female member, even if they already have a male on it as well.
FA of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said: “We are disappointed that Laura’s candidacy cannot go forward.
“She would like to make a contribution to Fifa and Uefa and we hope we can put her forward in the future.”
However, Ford accepts the Uefa ruling, saying: “It’s not red tape, they are not being unfair or anything like that. It’s there in the regulations. Can you say we should have been aware of it before putting Laura’s candidacy forward? Yes, is probably the answer to that.
“But we would hope at some point to find a way to change the regulations in the future and support Laura in another role.”