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Though millions of women around the world are interested in the game of Association Football their influence in the game is somewhat limited. The Game is thoroughly male dominated. And very much so. There is not a woman sitting on the FIFA and UEFA Executives. Not a single woman is found running a national association of which there are over 200 affiliated with FIFA, though there are a few involved with clubs. The situation is bound to change sooner or later. There will come a time when a high number of women will be found in decision-making positions. Their presence will be felt and positive changes will be effected. Such change is merely a natural progress which conforms to the modern trend of having equality of the sexes; not merely a fashionable theory but a practical equation. More equality for women in education, work and sport is more solidly on the agenda. FIFA’s systematic development work for women’s football has become one of its major and most enduring activities. UEFA is equally active.
More women are playing football
Within the next ten years women’s football will be the ‘in’ thing. Because of its newly found popularity, the game will attract more sponsors and far bigger crowds. The multiplier effect will be phenomenal. FIFA supremo Josep Blatter was strongly criticised when he was interpreted as wanting the game played by women to be sexed up with tight shorts or skimpy pants so popular in beach volley. Actually there are thousands of pretty girls playing football these days, and because of this reality, Blatter wanted the game to attract the attention of those who make billions from women’s products like cosmetics, fashion and footwear to have strong investments in women’s football.
There are hundreds of women who are professional sports broadcasters, writers and reporters who feel very comfortable in a male orientated game and they are no worse than their male colleagues. There will be a lot more in the foreseeable future.
The number of women referees, coaches, administrators and doctors is on the increase. So is their influence particularly in the women’s game, though one would obviously encourage more women in decision-making sectors. Admittedly gone are those days when the only women seen around in a club were just pretty secretaries, stunning receptionist, tea ladies or just office cleaners. Now you also see them sitting at boardroom meetings. Though obviously there are only a very limited few, their contribution is impressive.
A Sicilian example
A glaring example is given by the Sicilian Olga Mondello Franza, a 58 year-old widow and mother of three. She must have been at the Stadio delle Alpe last night! Her two sons, Pietro and Vincenzo occupy the posts of president and vice-president of Messina Calcio while daughter Helga is an artist. Olga Franza is the chairman of a company that boasts of twenty hotels and a number of ferry boats with more than one thousand people on the payroll. Like Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki the 49-year old lawyer who chaired the organising committee of the Olympic Games, the blonde determined lady from South Italy believes that through the success of Messina Calcio, her hometown gets a much better image, besides the newly found smiles on the faces of the modest locals. She does not occupy an official administrative post within the club but she is the most influential person behind the transfers, salaries and contracts. While mentioning Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who many believe will soon announce her intention to be a candidate in the Greek Presidential elections, one has also to single out yet another woman who has already made her mark as a brilliant sport administrator. Evelina Christillin is the name. The 48-year old from Turin is currently the bright light of the Organizing Committee of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics who had successfully piloted the bid campaign. She also served on the scientific committee responsible for the centenary celebrations of the popular Juventus Football club. Unfortunately there are very few like Gianna and Evelina!
Civil and sporting authorities insist that more women are involved in top positions, as the current number is extremely low.
Apart from Signora Franza there is just one other woman directly involved in the Italian football senior scene, Rosella Sensi, 32, daughter of Francesco , the 77-year old owner of A C Roma. She is the club’s official delegate. Previously Flora Viola wife of former Roma President and owner Dino, took over after her husband’s demise while the same situation occurred in Catania when Maria Grazia Coldignone took over after the death of her husband Angelo Massimino.
The situation is not much better in England and the rest of the continent.
In England, perhaps the best known are Karren Brody who was managing director at Birmingham, and Kate Hoey, an ex-education officer at Arsenal and Tottenham who later became Minister for Sport.
There should be more women active in a men’s world which also includes football.
A lot more.
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