Prince William urges Football Association reform

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 06 April 2016

Prince William tells the Football Association that it must proceed with reforms "with some urgency" to ensure it is not "left behind".

Prince William has urged the Football Association to proceed with reforms and ensure that it does not "get left behind".

The Duke of Cambridge was speaking at a lunch at Wembley Stadium where he was presented with a cap to mark his ten years as FA president.

Outgoing FA chairman Greg Dyke has attempted to reform the FA council to make it more diverse, and Prince William backed his efforts today.

"There is a wind of change blowing through global sporting governance and we need to ensure we do not get left behind," PA quotes Prince William as saying. "In fact, as the country's national sport, we ought to be leading the way.

"I know the organisation is currently reviewing this issue and there is an opportunity to seize the initiative by the way in which we reform ourselves. This is an emotive issue, and it is one that you all have a stake in deciding. I am proud to say that we in the FA have committed to playing our full part in pushing for better governance in football at FIFA and at a regional level.

"I think that you will agree with me that we ourselves, at the FA, must be as good as we can be as an organisation, fully representing society and serving the needs of 21st century football, if we still want to be listened to by the game elsewhere."

Prince William took over the presidency of the FA in May 2006 from his uncle the Duke of York.