Every team in Fifa’s women’s football tournaments must include at least one female head coach or assistant coach following the introduction of new regulations.

The requirements will come into effect during the under-17s and under-20s Women’s World Cup and Women’s Champions Cup competitions this year.

The decision was made at the Fifa Council on Thursday, and discussed the long-term strategy of female representation in coaching.

Under the new ruling, at least two staff members on the bench of every team at matches must be female, with one in an assistant coach or head coach role.

The rule applies to all youth and senior tournaments, including clubs and national teams.

At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, 12 of the 32 head coaches were female, including England manager Sarina Wiegman.

“There are simply not enough women in coaching today. We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the visibility for women on our sidelines,” said Fifa’s chief football officer Jill Ellis.

“The new Fifa regulations, combined with targeted development programmes, mark an important investment in the current and future generation of female coaches.”

Fifa hopes these new regulations will see a rapid increase in female representation, including at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Among some of the most high-profile female coaches is London-born Emma Hayes, who is joined by assistant Denise Reddy at the United States.

In 2024, Hayes told BBC Sport that a lack of female coaches in English football is “a massive issue” and urged the game’s administrators to “come up with more creative ways” to address it.

Other female English coaches at international level include Gemma Grainger at Norway, Casey Stoney at Canada and Carla Ward at the Republic of Ireland.

Canadian Rhian Wilkinson led Wales to their first major tournament at Euro 2025 last summer, while Dutchwoman Wiegman has guided England to back-to-back European titles and has been named the Fifa best women’s coach of the year on four occasions.

Wiegman was the only female coach in the quarter-final stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

(BBC)

MCA – FAIRFIRST ‘F’ DIVISION 20 OVER LEAGUE TOURNAMENT 2026

HNB Assurance will go all out to emerge undefeated champs and take home the ‘Fairfirst Trophy’ when they take on McLarens Group in the finals of the 8th MCA – Fairfirst ‘F’ Division 20 over League Cricket tournament scheduled to be played at the CCC ground at 2.00pm today [20th March]. The game which was originally planned to be played under lights is being played as a day game due to the previling fuel crisis. The third place game between MAS Active and Ansell Lanka will commence at 9.45a.m.

HNB Assurance, the only undefeated team in the tournament beat E B Creasy by 111 runs, Pizza Hut by 8 wickets, Attire Pvt Limited by 27 runs, Commercial Credit by 44 runs and Sitrek Group by 88 runs to lead group D and enter the knock out stage of the tournament. In the knock out stage they defeated Commercial Bank ‘B’ by 118 runs in the pre-quarter final, PABC by 6 wickets in the quarter-final and Ansell Lanka by 28 runs in the semi-final to qualify for the final.

McLarence Group Team

McLarens Group, playing in group A lost to Aitkin Spence by 66 runs but led their group having defeated Softlogic Life by 44 runs, PABC by 46 runs, Astron Lanka by 24 runs and Metropolitan Group by three wickets to enter the knock out stage. In the pre-quarter final, McLarens beat SAGT by 48 runs, overcame Camera.lk by 22 runs in the quarter-finals and MAS Active by three wickets in the semi-final to qualify for the final.

HNB Assurance is led by Dulanjana Wijesinghe will be selected from Dasun Abeywardena, Sangeeth Peiris, Abhishek Jayaweera, Lahiru Sithpriya, Pasindu Pathum, Chamod Piumal, Dasis Manchanayake, Taariq Naziar, Milinda Sanjaya Isuru Sampath, Charith de Silva, Tharindu Guruge, Anupa Sasanka, Dulanga Hettiarachchi, Supun Chanaka, Minidu Rajakaruna, Mohamed Rahumathulla and Raveen Alexander.

Manager: Kalhara Kariyawasam

HNB’s Pasindu Pathum who has scored the most runs [346] in the tournament so far together with Dasun Abeywardena and Lahiru Sithpriya are ranked among the top ten run scorers. Taariq Naziar is among the top tenwicket takers with sixteen wickets to his credit and In the fielding department Sangeeth Peiris is among the top ten with 12 dismissals to his credit.

McLarens Group led by Asanka Ranasinghe will be selected from, Russel Van Rooyen, Shehan Sandaruwan, Saminda Fernando, Ashan Mullegama, Dilan Perera, Oshada Chathuranga, Sachira Wijesinghe, Inesh Chamikara, Sadisha Gamage, Suranga Rodrigo, Lahiru Amarasekara, Ethan Ransilige, Hasindu Perera, Dulshan Jayawardhana, and Mandil Damruka

Manager: Samadhi Siriwardena

McLaren’s all-rounder Ethan Ransilige is among the top ten run scorers and wicket takers in the tournament and Shehan Sandaruwan is the second highest wicket taker [17 wickets] of the tournament.

Twenty four teams entered this year’s MCA F Division Tournament .

St. Servatius’ College will start as favourites when they take on arch rivals St. Thomas’ College in the “Battle of the Blues of Ruhuna” which gets underway at the Uyanwatta Stadium today.

‎The Servatians enter the contest with a strong outfit bolstered by the presence of two Sri Lanka Under-19 players. Skipper Chamarindu Nethsara and all-rounder Viran Chamuditha, still fresh from the recent Youth World Cup, add both quality and expectation to a side eager to end a title drought that has stretched for more than five decades.

‎Nethsara’s reliability behind the stumps and his contribution with the bat provide stability at the top, while Chamuditha has been in exceptional form this season, amassing close to 500 runs in just five matches. With his performances at the Youth World Cup still vivid in memory, the all-rounder will carry the hopes of the Servatian faithful.

‎However, success will hinge on a collective effort. Openers Heshan Madushanka and Risinu Kithmuka, both with over 400 runs this season, are expected to lay solid foundations. They will be supported by Thathsilu Bandara and Chamod Mihiranga, giving the batting unit both depth and balance.

‎The bowling department is equally formidable, spearheaded by the spin duo of Chamuditha and Samiru Gimhan, who have shared more than 60 wickets between them. Additional support comes from Lasindu Ramanayake, who has claimed over 30 wickets this season, including an impressive seven-wicket haul against Prince of Wales.

‎In contrast, St. Thomas’ College, led by wicketkeeper-batsman Abdul Majid, will enter the encounter as underdogs but not without firepower. Majid has been their standout performer with over 500 runs this season and will be key to anchoring the innings. He is expected to receive strong support from Thathsara Dewmin, Manuga Guruge, Kumesh Nuwanjana and Punal Pamuditha.

‎Dewmin has also been their most consistent bowler with nearly 30 wickets, while Dinura Pawnji and Guruge are likely to play crucial supporting roles with the ball.

‎History, however, adds an extra layer of intrigue. According to records, St. Servatius’ last tasted victory in 1971 under Nimal Munaweera, while St. Thomas’ last win came in 2007 under Tharaka Dushyantha.

‎With both teams eager to rewrite history and rising young stars ready to shine, this year’s Battle of the Blues of Matara promises an absorbing contest filled with pride, passion and the pursuit of long-awaited glory.

(RF)