GIS Graduate on his Role at UEFA: “A New Appreciation for the Scale and Professionalism Behind Elite Football”

Working at large sporting organisations is often the dream for many aspiring professionals and students.

UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, is one of the biggest, and is where GIS graduate Sumer Rajora has recently begun a new role.

A freelance Venue Data Coordinator, Sumer began working with the organisation in November 2025, two months after graduating from the Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business taught at our Lotto Park campus in Brussels.

Updating GIS on his role so far, Sumer outlined some of his responsibilities, including the support of matchday operations around data collection for the organisation and its clubs. 

“The role focuses on ensuring that information related to matches is captured accurately and communicated efficiently so that different stakeholders, from broadcast teams to digital platforms and most importantly the teams that are involved, have reliable and consistent data throughout the games.”

He added that day-to-day, he works closely with UEFA staff and venue teams to prepare the required systems before European fixtures. 

To summarise the demands of the role, Sumer added that it is “very detail-oriented,” whilst also requiring focus in what is a fast-paced live environment.

So how did Sumer land a role at one of the world’s biggest sporting organisations? 

A question many aspiring sports professionals may want to know the answer to, Sumer ran us through the process. 

“It was professional but also very practical, focusing on understanding how you think, how you communicate, and how comfortable you are working under pressure in live sports environments.

“My main advice,” he continued, “would be to focus less on trying to give ‘perfect’ answers and more on demonstrating your mindset, reliability, attention to detail, and willingness to learn. In sport, showing that you can adapt and collaborate is often just as important as technical knowledge.”

This is an important piece of advice echoed by some of the industry leaders that GIS have spoken to in the past. 

Dr Matthew Andrew, a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, echoed Sumer’s words, asking students: “How do you deliver your message? How do you feed back the data? How do you present it? Theoretical skills are important, but that doesn’t really come across when you speak.”

As we can see, communication is a key skill to have in the sports industry. Attention to detail is another, Sumer says.

“Small mistakes can have wider impacts in a live match setting. Alongside that, strong composure under pressure is essential, you need to process information quickly while staying calm and coordinated with multiple people at once.

“I also think curiosity and continuous learning are important, especially in roles that sit at the intersection of sport, technology, and operations.”

Daily, Sumer gets to put these skills into practice. On working for such a significant organisation in the world’s biggest sport, he said: “Being able to contribute, even in a small way, to major competitions gives you a new appreciation for the scale and professionalism behind elite football.

“I see it as a valuable learning experience and an opportunity to better understand how governing bodies operate from the inside. Long-term, I’m interested in continuing to grow within the football industry, and roles like this help build both experience and perspective.”

Finally, Sumer reflected on his time studying with us, concluding: “GIS didn’t just give me a qualification; it gave me direction, opportunity, and the platform to begin building a career within the sport I’ve always loved.”

To learn more about the programme, campus, and events Sumer had access to while studying at GIS, explore our prospectus.

Article by Zakaria Anani