Rimla Akhtar


Dr Rimla Akhtar MBE is a businesswoman and sports administrator, who champions inclusivity in sport. She was the first person who publicly identified themselves as an Asian, Muslim woman on the Football Association Council. She has spoken many times on the need for sports to adapt to accommodate Muslim athletes, and has called for an increase in diversity within sports and football.
She was awarded an MBE for "her contribution to equality and diversity in sport in 2015 Birthday Honours".
She is the Chair of the
Akhtar has served on the boards of several organisations. She is currently an independent trustee of Kick It Out, an English organisation campaigning against racism in football. She has also held memberships of the Asian and Muslim Women and Girls Working Group, as well as the Referees Diversity Action Group.

Awards and Achievements

2013

Akhtar was listed as an Asian Women of Achievement by The Independent.

2015

She was listed at number 15 in a list of the most influential women in sport by The Independent. She was also nominated for Muslim Woman of the Year for the British Muslim Awards in the same year. Her most notable achievement, however, was being included in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, achieving an MBE.

2018

She was ranked at number 14 in a list of the Most Powerful Women in Sports by Forbes.

Projects and Campaigns

In 2018, Akhar visited Jordan on behalf of Equal Playing Field and the Asian Football Development Project to deliver a project in support of women’s football and empowerment. The project  also set out to set the Guinness World Record for the lowest football match, which was played on a pitch built by the Dead Sea.