Women's Football Association of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Women's Football Association of Ireland or WFAI was organized in 1973, as a constellation of local leagues throughout the Republic of Ireland
, and invited to governance under the Football Association of Ireland
(FAI) in 1990. Women's football
in Northern Ireland
is governed by the Northern Ireland Women's Football Association, a division of the (Northern) Irish Football Association.
As of 2005, there were 6,500 registered players, 350 teams and 21 affiliated leagues in the WFAI. It is governed by a Council of representatives from the Divisional Leagues, meeting quarterly every year. 10 Executive members, elected by the Council to oversee daily operations and functional areas of the organisation including International Affairs, Under Age affairs, National Competitions and Coaching and Development. The WFAI Development Plan calls for four Provincial Councils, set up so that control and decision making remain close to the base of activity.
The Republic of Ireland Women's Football Team
fall under the jurisdicton of the WFAI and play in 1st Division FIFA
competition, including Women's World Cup
qualifying fixtures.
There is no national women's first division league in Ireland at the moment; the leagues are not interconnected. The most important women's league at the moment, in terms of exposure, is the Dublin Women's League.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, and invited to governance under the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
(FAI) in 1990. Women's football
Women's football (soccer)
Women's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
is governed by the Northern Ireland Women's Football Association, a division of the (Northern) Irish Football Association.
As of 2005, there were 6,500 registered players, 350 teams and 21 affiliated leagues in the WFAI. It is governed by a Council of representatives from the Divisional Leagues, meeting quarterly every year. 10 Executive members, elected by the Council to oversee daily operations and functional areas of the organisation including International Affairs, Under Age affairs, National Competitions and Coaching and Development. The WFAI Development Plan calls for four Provincial Councils, set up so that control and decision making remain close to the base of activity.
The Republic of Ireland Women's Football Team
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
fall under the jurisdicton of the WFAI and play in 1st Division FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
competition, including Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup
The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
qualifying fixtures.
There is no national women's first division league in Ireland at the moment; the leagues are not interconnected. The most important women's league at the moment, in terms of exposure, is the Dublin Women's League.