Sponsors frustrated by decision to stop girl presenting FA Women's Cup
The sponsors of the FA Women’s Cup in England are understood to be frustrated after a committee blocked their request for a girl to be allowed to present the trophy to the winning team in May.
Energy firm SSE had wanted a girl to perform the trophy handover but the proposal was rejected by the FA’s protocol committee on the grounds that it would set a precedent to allow under-16s into the adults-only VIP suite.
It is understood both SSE and FA chief executive Martin Glenn have been frustrated by the decision, which was also queried by FA councillors at a meeting this week.
Glenn is keen to promote the women’s game especially to young people and the opportunity to display a young, female figure presenting the trophy to the winning captain at the final which is taking place at Wembley on May 14 could have had excellent publicity value.
The minutes of the protocol committee state that an FA official “joined the meeting in order to request a child under the age of 16 to present the SSE Women’s FA Cup to the winning team as requested by the sponsor SSE.
“The committee noted the importance of the FA obtaining a sponsor to invest in women’s football. The committee discussed the matter further and put the decision to a vote. On a show of hands the committee rejected the request with four votes in favour and five against.”
Neither SSE nor the FA would comment on the decision.
