UEFA Research Grant Programme Grants Awarded Abstracts UEFA Research Grant Programme This document contains a short summary of the results of all the research projects completed to date with the help of UEFA Research Grant Programme funding. Most of the final reports for the studies listed here can be obtained by sending an email request to
[email protected]. The content of these final reports and of the summaries in this document is the work of the authors alone and does not necessarily represent the views of UEFA opinion. 2010/11 edition Women's football, Europe and professionalisation, 1971–2011 Jean William, De Montfort University, UK This research looked at the increasing number of professional women players between 1971 and 2011. From a status of neglect and scorn, women’s football has transformed itself in the last 40 years into one of the fastest-growing team sports for women, and the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany in 2011 was supported by politicians, the media, art exhibitions and a growing number of fans. The research therefore included the increased media and commercial profiles of European women’s football competitions since 1971 and Women’s World Cups since 1991. Extensive player, coach and administrator interviews allowed the author to assess the major changes in the social, national and cultural composition of players participating in the emerging professional women's football leagues. Corporate social responsibility in European football Geoff Walters, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK Organisations face significant pressure to be accountable and to show commitment to society through social and environmental activities.