LONDON (Reuters) – Former Wales captain Laura McAllister will stand unopposed to become the UEFA Executive Committee’s designated female member, the Football Association of Wales said on Thursday.
The 58-year-old, capped 24 times by her country, will become the first representative from Wales to be elected to a position on European football’s governing, according to the FAW.
McAllister will be officially elected to the committee at the UEFA congress on April 5 in Lisbon.
“The FAW represents a modern, progressive nation and I know that Laura’s knowledge and experience will prove a huge asset to the wide and diverse European football family,” FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said in a statement.
McAllister, who is gay, has been Deputy Chairperson of UEFA’s Women’s Football Committee and is a member of the UEFA Working Group on gender equality.
“Welsh football is breaking through a lot of glass ceilings currently and joining the UEFA Executive Committee will be a tremendous achievement for the FAW and a very proud moment for me and my family,” she said.
McAllister made headlines in November at the Qatar World Cup when she was told to remove a rainbow-coloured bucket hat she was wearing when attending the Wales v United States match.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
