The Duke of Cambridge has used his 10-year anniversary speech as President of the FA to call for it to reform its council to make it more diverse.
Prince William said the FA was in danger of being “left behind” as he spoke during a recent lunch at Wembley to mark a decade in the role as president.
His comments came following outgoing chairman Greg Dyke’s efforts to reform the FA Council to make it more representative and diverse.
The FA council, the body Dyke describes as “overwhelmingly white and male”, and despite the call by Prince William, the FA president, last month for the members to embrace change.
Dyke’s proposals were to modernise the 125-strong council, of which there are only six women and four from ethnic minority backgrounds. He wanted it to be made up of three sections, one from the amateur game, one from the professional game and a third block made up representatives of fans, women’s football, referees, players, managers and diversity groups.
During his appointment in the role Mr Dyke has also called for the release of more money for grassroots football and coaching .
In his speech, Prince William said the FA’s governance structure was in “danger” of falling short of modern standards of best practice and the sport “ought to be leading the way.”
It is impossible at times to keep everybody happy all of the time, however on this point we would have to agree with Prince William and Greg Dykes urge for reform.A modern governing body must be representative of the game.
The FA does not only represent and govern the professional game it also governs the grassroots game and therefore it is right and fair to have true representation.
This will only improve the game and has no negative impact on the wider game.
Grassroots
