Debbie Hewitt is vying for the British vice-presidency role at Fifa, with the aim of restoring English power in world football. The position holds a crucial responsibility of ensuring that English football has a voice in the world’s most powerful global football corporation. The role has been in place since the four Home nations joined Fifa in 1946 and has brought its fair share of controversies. The last English representative to hold the position was Greg Clarke, who was forced to quit in 2020 after a series of offensive comments. Clarke’s brief spell was the first English vice-presidency since Geoff Thompson’s retirement in 2011. Northern Ireland’s David Martin currently occupies the role, but the lack of English power at Fifa was enforced by the infamous row over the ‘OneLove’ armbands at the Qatar World Cup 2022, which overshadowed England’s opening game. The FA feels they need to reclaim the role, which Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin will actively support as he believes that Fifa needs a strong English voice. All 55 Uefa members will vote for the next candidate in April.
Debbie Hewitt is a British businesswoman and sports administrator who is currently the FA Chair. She is the FA’s first Chairwoman in its 157-year history. The 43-year-old is now running for Uefa British Vice President in the Fifa Council. Hewitt was chief executive officer of the RAC from 2006 until 2008. In 2011, she was awarded an MBE for services to business and the public sector. Since 2018, she has been the non-executive chair of BGL Group, Visa Europe and White Stuff. Football has always been a passion of hers, and she is a life-long Liverpool fan. In 2021, she was voted by unanimous decision to become the first chairwoman of the FA following the resignation of the disgraced Greg Clarke.
Hewitt knows the current Fifa President, Gianni Infantino, from her role with sponsors Visa Europe. She is married to Paul Hewitt, the former finance director at the RAC, and the couple has twins together.
The British vice presidency role at Fifa is a highly sought-after position, and Hewitt’s candidacy has been met with enthusiasm from the football community. Her experience in business and sports administration makes her a strong candidate for the role. The FA’s decision to support her candidacy is a clear indication of their desire to have a strong English voice at Fifa. With Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin’s support, Hewitt’s chances of winning the position are high.
If Hewitt is successful in her bid for the British vice-presidency role, she will have a significant impact on English football’s representation at Fifa. Her appointment would ensure that English football has a voice in the world’s most powerful global football corporation. It would also be a significant step forward for women in football, as she would become the first woman to hold the position.
In conclusion, Debbie Hewitt’s candidacy for the British vice-presidency role at Fifa is an exciting development for English football. Her experience in business and sports administration makes her a strong candidate for the role, and her appointment would ensure that English football has a voice in the world’s most powerful global football corporation. With Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin’s support, her chances of winning the position are high. If successful, she would become the first woman to hold the position, which would be a significant step forward for women in football.