By Chinedu Onyejelem

Women in soccer could be mainstreamed if made a priority by the latest Fifa Reform Committee meeting on 2-3 September. Already a task force set up by soccer’s world governing body has called for greater inclusion and participation of women in all activities.

“It has been exciting to see the upsurge in interest for women’s football in the weeks following the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada, but we need to ensure the momentum is maintained,” said Moya Dodd, chair of the task force and a co-opted member of the Fifa executive committee.

“Today we have fully endorsed the calls to action announced during the symposium and used these to develop proposals to increase the number of women involved, not only on the field but also in governance and in business aspects of the game.”

Dodd added that “this is a crucial time for Fifa as the reform process is set to advance in the coming months, and the Task Force for Women’s Football will continue to push for better gender balance in football given that it undoubtedly enhances governance and improves the game overall.”

Fifa President Sepp Blatter, who established the task force in October 2013, said the success of the Women’s World Cup “shows how far women’s football has come while also demonstrating why it is so important to ensure girls and women have the best possible access to the game, both on and off the field.

“Women are part of football and need to be given equal opportunities,” he added. “Fifa is committed to taking a leading role in promoting gender equality and encourages all confederations and member associations to do the same.”

The Task Force for Women’s Football discussed three main areas – governance, competitions and participation, and business – that would enable the emergence of more women in what’s a male-dominated sport in most countries.

It recommends that Fifa set a target of 30 per cent “for women’s participation on boards and committees and in senior management roles” as well as increasing the number of female coaches and referees to make the game more ‘women-friendly’. It also called for women’s soccer to be represented “at the highest level and in the decision-making bodies through specialists, ideally women.”

The task force also proposes “the development and implementation of a high-growth commercial strategy for women’s football to make it the highest economically valuable women’s sport in the world.”