FIFA appoints Joyce Cook as Chief Member Associations Officer

Level Playing Field Chair, Joyce Cook OBE has accepted the role of Chief Member Associations Officer at FIFA.

Joyce has been Chair of Level Playing Field since 2007 and has overseen the extraordinary growth of the organisation which has put access and inclusion for disabled spectators at the very top of the agenda.

The topic of access for disabled spectators is now a key focus for sports governing bodies, Government, the EHRC and the media. In 2015 the Premier League pledged that all of its member clubs will comply with Accessible Stadia minimum standards by August 2017. Level Playing Field supports and works closely with clubs, leagues and key stakeholders to improve access and inclusion for disabled sports fans.

A FIFA press release said, “Joyce has a proven record of developing and delivering far-reaching and sustainable diversity and inclusion projects at both national and international levels, with a broad knowledge of football structures and governance. She is the founder and managing director of the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) and internationally recognised as expert adviser on accessible stadiums and the built environment for sports events and services, including handbooks developed by FIFA and UEFA for their flagship events.”This position was created as part of the restructuring of FIFA’s administration and entails the delivery of a key goal in the recently established FIFA vision: investment in football development through FIFA’s 211 member associations under the FIFA Forward Programme.

Joyce will now relocate to Zurich to take up her new position at FIFA, and everyone at LPF wishes her the very best of luck in the role.

Congratulations Joyce, and thank you for your hard work and dedication as Chair of LPF.