On Tuesday, October 13th, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) held its Executive Committee election, resulting in a gain of one female seat and a loss of one female seat. This election marks a significant shift in the gender balance of UEFA’s Executive Committee, which is now comprised of seven men and two women.
The election saw the re-election of incumbent female member Karen Espelund, who has served on the committee since 2009. She was joined by newcomer Evelina Christillin, who was elected to the committee for the first time. Christillin is a former president of the Italian Football Federation and a current member of the FIFA Council.
The election also saw the departure of another female member, Moya Dodd. Dodd had served on the committee since 2013 and was the first woman to be elected to the committee. Her departure marks a loss for UEFA’s gender balance, as she was an outspoken advocate for gender equality in soccer.
The election results come at a time when UEFA is facing increased pressure to improve its gender balance. In recent years, UEFA has taken steps to promote gender equality in soccer, including introducing a Women’s Champions League and creating a Women’s Football Development Program.
However, despite these efforts, there is still a long way to go before UEFA achieves true gender equality. The election results show that while progress is being made, there is still a need for more female representation in UEFA’s Executive Committee.
It is clear that UEFA must continue to take steps to ensure that women are represented in its decision-making bodies. This includes increasing the number of female members on the Executive Committee, as well as ensuring that women are given equal opportunities to participate in UEFA’s other committees and programs.
Ultimately, it is up to UEFA to ensure that its committees and programs are truly representative of the diversity of its membership. The election results show that while progress is being made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women are given an equal voice in UEFA’s decision-making processes.
