European Club Association Promises To Increase Gender Diversity

Europe’s biggest football clubs "approved plans aimed at increasing gender diversity in the game across the continent," the European Club Association said on Monday, according to Christian Radnedge of REUTERS. The ECA said that women were "significantly underrepresented" and added that its exec board "had backed the creation of a strategy to tackle the issue." The plans "would be presented for approval at the body’s next general assembly in March." ECA board member and former Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis said in a statement, "As clubs, the foundation of the game, we believe that fresh and diverse voices are key to shaping the future of the professional game. With this in mind, ECA will begin to focus on identifying measures to increase women’s involvement within our association and club football as a whole" (REUTERS, 10/22).