Javier Tebas: "On behalf of football, I apologise for not having paid enough attention towards the women's game"

A year after the signing of the partnership agreement between Valencia CF and UN Women (the UN commission which campaigns for equality and women's rights across the globe), the first international workshop, entitled Gender Equality Through Football, took place at Valencia's Mestalla stadium.

LaLiga once again demonstrated its commitment and support towards the professionalisation of the women's game and was represented at the event by the organisation's president, Javier Tebas. The LaLiga chief took his place on a panel which featured Pedro Malabia, head of women's football at LaLiga; Layhoon Chan, president of Valencia CF; Dagmar Schumacher, director of the Brussels office of the United Nations Development Fund for Women; and Ivana Andres, captain of Valencia CF Women along with her coach, Cristian Toro.

During her speech, Valencia CF Womens's Andres offered her thanks for "the backing and determination of the club and LaLiga to professionalise the women's game and for making it part of this great project." Whilst Cristian Toro underlined that "the progress being made is becoming increasingly evident, as the Women's First Division gains in professionalism," before thanking LaLiga for its "support and for having expressed a desire to continue to make the women's game grow."

Dagmar Shumacher argued that "sport can make a difference and change society's views on gender equality, and workshops like this one should boosts the girls' confidence for them to go out and achieve great things". Whilst the Valencia CF president, Layhoon Chan, highlighted "the efforts being made by women's football clubs and the struggles involved in female players leaving their status as fans or semi-professionals behind to go on and make a living from the sport."

The LaLiga president, Javier Tebas, opened his presentation by expressing his regret when stating that "on behalf of football, I wish to apologise for having neglected gender equality and not having paid enough attention towards the women's game." The LaLiga chief remarked that "when I joined LaLiga three years ago it was all males, but today the board of management is made up of seven men and five women." The president sought to stress the organisation's commitment to the Women's First Division when outlining that "LaLiga's aim is to establish a solid structure, which will span right from the distribution of improved materials through to referee training, stadiums controls and the training offered to clubs." In addition, Tebas pointed out that "it's forecasted that within a year, women's football will generate a revenue of 4 million euros," before noting that "we're working to ensure that by next year women's football matches will be available to watch on national television."

This event is part of the international workshop entitled Gender Equality Through Football, in which professionals involved in humanitarian work across the globe are set to receive training on coaching techniques.