ECA Women's Football Committee kicks off in London

In view of the growing interest and professionalization in women's football, the ECA Executive Board decided to create a women's football committee under the ECA umbrella. The aim of this committee is to offer a platform allowing for European women's club football matters to be discussed and eventually brought up at UEFA/FIFA level. The WFC is chaired by ECA Board Member Jean-Michel Aulas (Olympique Lyonnais) who will keep the ECA Executive Board informed about discussions and progress made by the committee.

Commenting on the first meeting, WFC Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said:

     "Over the last 5 years, ECA has become an important player on the European football landscape. I am convinced that the ECA Women's Football Committee will as well play an important role and help improving the structures of women's football as a whole."

The committee is composed of 23 clubs, a mix of both ECA Member Clubs with a women's section and selected non-ECA clubs. The list of clubs reads as follows (sorted alphabetically by country):

NÖSV Neulengbach (AUT), Standard Fémina de Liège (BEL), AC Sparta Praha (CZE), Brøndby IF (DEN), Arsenal LFC (ENG), Everton LFC (ENG), Valencia CF Femenino (ESP), FC Levadia Tallinn (EST), FC Honka Espoo (FIN), Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (FRA), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (GER), FC Bayern München (GER), FC PAOK (GRE), Torres Calcio (ITA), SK Liepajas Metalurgs (LVA), Birkirkara FC (MLT), FC Twente (NED), Lillestrøm FK Kvinner (NOR), Zvezda-2005 (RUS), ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK), Umeå IK (SWE), FC Zürich Frauen (SWI).

The WFC was pleased with the presence of UEFA Executive Committee Member, Mrs. Karen Espelund, who presented UEFA's women's football strategy and welcomes ECA's initiative. The ECA Women's Football Committee will collaborate closely with UEFA in the future to help develop women's football in Europe.