Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has been elected as the British vice-president on the FIFA Council.
Hewitt, who became the FA’s first female chair in 2021, was chosen for the role on the global governing body’s most senior committee until 2027 at the UEFA Congress in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Hewitt secured 39 of the votes from UEFA’s 55 national associations to beat incumbent David Martin from Northern Ireland.
She will be the first female FIFA vice-president and this is the first time a woman has beaten a man in a UEFA vote.
The news represents a major success for the FA, who lobbied hard for Hewitt’s appointment, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had also backed her for the position, believing it was important for Europe to have an English voice on the FIFA Council.
“I am honoured to be appointed as a FIFA vice-president and sincerely thank European football associations for their support,” Hewitt said.
“My aim is to be a meaningful voice for UEFA in international debates as FIFA seeks to grow the game. I will work hard to promote good governance and transparency, and strengthen UEFA’s relations with FIFA.”
Lise Klaveness, the first woman to run against men for a place on UEFA Executive Committee, has meanwhile failed in her bid to secure a position…
