Former Welsh player and board-hardened McAllister sets sights on FIFA Council seat

By Andrew Warshaw

March 12 – Laura McAllister is under no illusions about her chances of success when she bids to become European football’s female representative on the FIFA Council next month.

But the former captain of Wales firmly believes that if the result of the UEFA ballot is based on experience, knowledge, commitment, goodwill and vision, she has all the attributes necessary to unseat the present incumbent, Italy’s Evelina Christillin, in a two-horse race.

If at first you don’t succeed is an expression McAllister knows only too well.

Five years ago her campaign for the same position came to an abrupt end because of an antiquated rule that prevented a second candidate from the British home nations holding a position on the FIFA council. England’s David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive, was a FIFA vice-president at the time, meaning no other British person could apply.

The rule has since been scrapped and McAllister has left no stone unturned in her efforts to be elected on April 20, having already held virtual meetings with more than half of UEFA’s 55 member associations as well as with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

“We are under no illusions that this is going to be a tough test,” McAllister told Insideworldfootball in an exclusive interview. “But things have arguably gone even better than we expected in terms of having time with the voting members which can sometimes be difficult when one is up against an incumbent.”

“In one way the Covid restrictions have made things easier in that I doubt I would have been able to get round so many associations if I had physically had to go and meet them.”

If she is successful McAllister will become one of the most influential female administrators in football. Her manifesto, shortly to be released, focusses on the fact that she played the game at the top level (24 appearances for Wales) which not all female sports administrators have done. She is passionate about driving change at grassroots level to increase opportunities for girls. “That’s something that is really close to my heart.”

The manifesto, it has to be said, was drawn up prior to the distinctly untimely removal of Jonathan Ford as Welsh FA chief executive. McAllister can only hope the departure of Ford, who used his contacts to facilitate many of her virtual conversations with the great and the good of European football, will not end up jeopardising her case.

If her credentials are anything to go by, it shouldn’t. But everyone knows the extent to which politics and perception plays a part in such ballots.

Having said that, McAllister has a strong pedigree in sports administration. Since 2016 she has served as deputy chair of UEFA’s women’s football committee. Much of her career since hanging up her boots has been in sports governance including being on the board of UK Sport.

“My background is in politics so I know only too well how hard it is to be the new kid on the block,” she confesses. “I’m going up against a sitting candidate from a very powerful footballing country and there’s a tradition in sport to give the incumbent the benefit of the doubt.”

“But I’m a very different candidate. I would be the first woman from Europe who has played for her international team to sit on the FIFA Council. Not many women who’ve played the game have been able to gain a foothold in authority. Sometimes the players feel that their voice gets missed and were I to be elected, they would have someone who was close enough to know that I would represent their interests when conversations take place.

“I also feel very strongly that I wouldn’t be voice just for women’s football’s, or just because I was a player. I’ve also worked on the strategic side of football governance. In fact I’ve been involved in governance for two decades.”

McAllister, 56, hopes such a combination will be a winning skill set in terms of her leadership attributes.

“Taken together, we’re confident that my profile in the game and my experience and expertise gives us a good platform to encourage the national  associations to support me. I know how to roll my sleeves up. Hopefully my CV looks appealing. I certainly think aspects of it are unique.”

If elected, she doesn’t intend, as you can perhaps tell, to sit back and rest on her laurels. McAllister is passionate about furthering inclusivity and diversity and believes the time has come to stop talking and start delivering

“I feel really strongly about this. I don’t see the point of having a designated women’s place if it’s just to get a woman round the table who can’t speak for football generally. That’s where I believe I can make a difference.”

Just as Ceferin himself was an underdog from a smaller nation when he launched his campaign to take over as UEFA president, so McAllister – a big believer, like the Slovenian, in competitive balance – hopes she can pull off a similar upset. Will Ceferin be sympathetic to her cause in that respect when he uses his influence behind the scenes?

“It’s a legitimate point. Of course I don’t know but there’s certainly a case to be said for smaller nations and the contributions they can make.”

With Wales having reached the semi-finals of the 2016 women’s Euros, she believes she is in a unique position to relate to nations at all levels, from those with international success to those who rely on grass-roots development and coaching education.

“I’m determined if I win not to leave smaller nations behind. It’s about convincing the associations that I would be a strong representative for all the European nations at Fifa. I’ve certainly put in the hours. With all modesty, I believe I can be an asset.

“My manifesto will be based on me as a football candidate. Let’s be frank, I don’t think any opponent could rival that. But as I say, I’m under no illusions that I’m an outsider and it would be upsetting the odds.

“I’m not in it for anything other than wanting to make a major contribution to the growth of the game. I don’t know what more in my career I could have done as a female (to get elected). I can only hope that chimes with the voting members.”

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