DEBBIE Hewitt is running for Fifa’s British vice-presidency role in an attempt to restore the English power in world football.
The British vice presidency role at Fifa holds the crucial responsibility of ensuring that English football has a voice in the world’s most powerful global football corporation.
GettyDebbie Hewitt is running for Fifa’s British vice-presidency role[/caption]
The British vice president position has been in place since the four Home nations joined Fifa in 1946 and it has brought its fair share of controversies.
Greg Clarke was the last English representative to hold the position, but he 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.
The role is currently occupied by Northern Ireland’s David Martin. 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 feel 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.
Who is Debbie Hewitt?
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.
How did Hewitt get into football administration?
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.
How does she know Gianni Infantino?
Gianni Infantino is the current Fifa President.
Hewitt knows the 53-year-old from her role with sponsors Visa Europe.
Who is her husband?
She is married to Paul Hewitt, the former finance director at the RAC.
The couple has twins together.