Kelly Simmons was among attendees at a FIFA workshop to discuss a possible new structure for the women’s international football calendar.
The workshop - held at FIFA’s HQ in Zurich - was attended by representatives from confederations and national associations, as well as the European Club Association, FIFPro and a number of key figures from the women’s game across the world.
Leading the agenda was the long-term coordination of the international calendar among the continental confederations.
The workshop was held at FIFA's HQ in Zurich
The FA was represented by Kelly Simmons, the director of the national game and women’s football, who said that positive steps were made.
“We welcome the proposal to introduce a longer-term fixture calendar as it will allow federations across the world to better plan and promote games, at both international and domestic levels.
"It's critical for the development of the game that we get the right balance of domestic and international football with the development of the player at the heart of any plan."
“Player development should be at the centre of any planning and the proposed changes”
Kelly Simmons
Any decisions made will be presented to the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cupa and to the Players’ Status Committee before finally being submitted to the FIFA Executive Committee for approval.
Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s deputy director of the competitions division, also welcomed the progress made at the workshop.
“Women’s football is getting more and more professional and we need to get more consistency at the international level in order to support the confederations, member associations, leagues, clubs and players,” she added.
“The balance and the coordination of the commitments of a player for her duties at the club, but also at the national team, must be coordinated and streamlined.”
