Triesman appointed FA chairman

The Football Association (FA) has officially appointed Lord Triesman of Tottenham as its first independent chairman.

New role
David Triesman, 64, has until now been a minister at the United Kingdom's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, having been a member of the House of Lords since 2004. A former amateur player, coach, referee and Tottenham Hotspur FC fan, Triesman's new role has been created following structural reforms carried out by the FA in the wake of an independent review, with the chair to be appointed from outside football on a three-year term. He will be able to vote on all matters put before the FA board, unlike previous chairmen, the last of whom, Geoffrey Thompson, remains a vice-president of UEFA and FIFA.

'Exceptional honour'