July 22 – On the day the WEuro 2025 reached semi-final stage in Geneva, Switzerland, representatives of the Europe’s women’s leagues gathered just down the road in Nyon to officially launch the Women’s European Leagues ‘platform’.
Fiona McIntyre, managing director of SWPL (Scotland), will chair the new body. Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football (England), Beatriz Alvarez, president of Liga F (Spain), and Anders Billström, chairman of Elitfotboll Dam (Sweden), make up the management board.
Other leagues present at the founding of the body included: Pro League (Belgium), Kvindedivisionsforeningen (Denmark), Frauen-Bundesliga (Germany), League of Ireland, Icelandic Women’s Premier Division, Northern Ireland Football League, and Toppserien (Norway).
“The establishment of the Women’s European Leagues Platform is a historic day for women’s football in Europe,” said McIntyre.
“The role of leagues in advancing women’s football cannot be under-estimated, and this new platform will enable leagues to work collectively and collaboratively with key stakeholders across the game to advance our shared objective for the development of women’s football in Europe.”
Women’s European Leagues (WEL) said it aims to facilitate collective collaboration, and coordinated representation at continental level.
“The platform will foster knowledge sharing, develop collective business opportunities, and act as the leading representative body on all matters of common interest for member leagues,” said a press statement.
To that end the launch was also attended by representatives from key European institutional stakeholders from National Associations, players and clubs.
WEL said it is open for more women’s leagues to join that have an independent professional structure or are integrated with the men’s professional league as ‘Ordinary Members’. Federations responsible for their national women’s league can also join as ‘Associate’ Members.
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