FIFA pushes for women in leadership roles

A world football governing body forum has said quotas are necessary to increase the number of women in leadership roles.
Panellists at the first FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference held here Friday said to do this to keep women involved in the sport.
Experts and leaders from football, and business discussed ways to develop women’s football and to create more opportunities for them in leadership roles around the world at the conference.
"Equality among men and women is far from being achieved," said Lydia Nsekera, the first woman to become a full member of the FIFA Executive Committee.
She called for more women in the Congress of FIFA. "I call on all women to work hard, with men, to overcome the existing obstacles." FIFA's push for greater role for women comes ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8.
To mark IDW, FIFA President Blatter signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration with the International Working Group on Women and Sport at the FIFA conference.
This declaration sets out principles to support women’s in society and promotes gender equality.
Blatter said FIFA is eager to drive more growth in women's football and to improve their representation in leadership.
"More than 30 million girls and women play football around the world," he said. "It is our duty to drive this growth to its full potential and ensure equal opportunity for all member associations."