David Will

European football is mourning the death of the former Scottish Football Association (SFA) president David Will at the age of 72. Mr Will was also a former vice-president of both UEFA and the world governing body FIFA, and was involved in football in Scotland, Europe and around the world for more than three decades.

Outstanding career
A lawyer by profession, David Will, born on 20 November 1936, enjoyed an outstanding career within the European game. He was a member of the UEFA Executive Committee from 1984 to 1986, a member of the UEFA Emergency Committee from 1988 to 1990, and a vice-president of the European body from 1986 to 1990. He was chairman of the UEFA Referees Committee (1988-90), the UEFA Non-Amateur and Professional Football Committee (1984-88) and the UEFA Committee for EU Matters (1990-98), as well as serving as a member of the UEFA Juridical Committee (1998-2000). Mr Will also acted as a UEFA match delegate, and was a member of the Amicale des Anciens circle of long-serving former UEFA committee members.

European and world service
Within FIFA, Mr Will gave 17 years of service, in particular as an Executive Committee member and vice-president (both from 1990), and attended UEFA Executive Committee meetings in his capacity as a European member of the FIFA Executive Committee. He became an honorary FIFA vice-president in 2007, and chaired the FIFA Legal Matters Committee, National Associations Committee, Referees Committees and Players' Status Committee on behalf of the world body. He was a member of the Organising Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.

Football can teach
Mr Will, who came from near Brechin, was president of the SFA from 1984 to 1989, vice-president from 1983 to 1984, and treasurer from 1980 to 1983. He was chairman of Scottish club Brechin City FC for 25 years. "In addition to the pleasure it brings," he said, "football can help teach people about teamwork, the importance of co-operation and the need for responsibility and fair play."

Giant of the game
"David was a giant of the game," said SFA chief executive Gordon Smith. "His knowledge and love for football saw him rise from a small-town club to the vice-presidency of FIFA. He was one of the most humble yet influential figures in the game and he played his part in taking football around the world."