William Gaillard
Encyclopedia
William Gaillard is the director of communications
and Public Affairs for Union of European Football Associations
(UEFA). He is also the Senior Advisor to the President of UEFA Michel Platini
.
He came to wide prominence following the condemnation that UEFA suffered in the wake of the 2007 Champions League Final
.
and the UN International Drug Control Program.
as well as the UEFA's Director of Communication and Public Affairs. He advises the UEFA President on political issues and oversees all external communications
Gaillard heads UEFA's Communications and Public Affairs Division, which is responsible for all activities involving UEFA's relations with the media, as well as for the production of UEFA's various publications and reports and the UEFA charity portfolio.
William Gaillard has been highly visible since joining UEFA; indeed, he is perhaps the most prominent of UEFA's senior officials, along with President Michel Platini.
Gaillard has been highly active in anti-racism work within football. Following England's game in 2004 against Spain when players were subjected to racial abuse, he stated that players should not leave the pitch:
He is an active partner with Britain's Kick It Out campaign and UEFA's own uniteagainstracism
trouble occurred after thousands of ticketless Liverpool supporters stormed the turnstiles, meaning some 2000 fans with genuine tickets were denied entry. Gaillard said that the problems in Greece were typical of the behaviour of some Liverpool supporters during the past four years, branding them the worst in Europe; despite earlier saying that both sets of supporters 'have a tradition of good behaviour'. He accused Liverpool supporters of stealing tickets "out of the hands of children" and said "we know what happened in Athens and Liverpool fans were the cause of most of the trouble there". This was seen by some as UEFA attempting to avoid the blame for the disorganisation of the final, and they were accused by Richard Caborn
as entering into the blame game. This also resulted in Gaillard being heavily criticised by Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks
.
British Sports Minister Richard Caborn
, on June 5, 2007 met with UEFA president Michel Platini, after which the Frenchman denied that Liverpool supporters are the worst in Europe.
Director of Communications
Director of communications is a position in both the private and public sectors. A director of communications is responsible for managing and directing an organization's internal and external communications...
and Public Affairs for Union of European Football Associations
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
(UEFA). He is also the Senior Advisor to the President of UEFA Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
.
He came to wide prominence following the condemnation that UEFA suffered in the wake of the 2007 Champions League Final
2007 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2007 UEFA Champions League Final was an association football match between A.C. Milan of Italy and Liverpool F.C. of England on 23 May 2007 at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2006–07 season of Europe's premier cup competition, the UEFA...
.
Before UEFA
In addition to his career at UEFA, he has also been Director of Corporate Communication for the International Air Transport AssociationInternational Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
and the UN International Drug Control Program.
His role within UEFA
William Gaillard is the Senior Adviser to the UEFA President Michel PlatiniMichel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
as well as the UEFA's Director of Communication and Public Affairs. He advises the UEFA President on political issues and oversees all external communications
Gaillard heads UEFA's Communications and Public Affairs Division, which is responsible for all activities involving UEFA's relations with the media, as well as for the production of UEFA's various publications and reports and the UEFA charity portfolio.
William Gaillard has been highly visible since joining UEFA; indeed, he is perhaps the most prominent of UEFA's senior officials, along with President Michel Platini.
Gaillard has been highly active in anti-racism work within football. Following England's game in 2004 against Spain when players were subjected to racial abuse, he stated that players should not leave the pitch:
He is an active partner with Britain's Kick It Out campaign and UEFA's own uniteagainstracism
2007 Champions League Final
At the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final2007 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2007 UEFA Champions League Final was an association football match between A.C. Milan of Italy and Liverpool F.C. of England on 23 May 2007 at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2006–07 season of Europe's premier cup competition, the UEFA...
trouble occurred after thousands of ticketless Liverpool supporters stormed the turnstiles, meaning some 2000 fans with genuine tickets were denied entry. Gaillard said that the problems in Greece were typical of the behaviour of some Liverpool supporters during the past four years, branding them the worst in Europe; despite earlier saying that both sets of supporters 'have a tradition of good behaviour'. He accused Liverpool supporters of stealing tickets "out of the hands of children" and said "we know what happened in Athens and Liverpool fans were the cause of most of the trouble there". This was seen by some as UEFA attempting to avoid the blame for the disorganisation of the final, and they were accused by Richard Caborn
Richard Caborn
Richard George Caborn PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central from 1983 to 2010...
as entering into the blame game. This also resulted in Gaillard being heavily criticised by Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
.
British Sports Minister Richard Caborn
Richard Caborn
Richard George Caborn PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central from 1983 to 2010...
, on June 5, 2007 met with UEFA president Michel Platini, after which the Frenchman denied that Liverpool supporters are the worst in Europe.