SYDNEY — England are one of a number of nations who have failed to resolve a dispute over fair pay in time for the start of the Women’s World Cup.
The Lionesses said they were “disappointed” as they confirmed they have paused talks with the FA over performance-related bonuses until after the World Cup has concluded. Canada and Nigeria’s players have been involved in similar discussions with their own national associations.
In a statement on behalf of England’s players, temporary captain Millie Bright said: “Last year we presented the FA with concerns relating to our bonus and commercial structures. The hope was that discussions would lead to a solution before the commencement of our World Cup.
“We are disappointed that a resolution has still not been achieved. We view the successful conclusion of these discussions, through player input and a transparent long term plan, as key for the growth of women’s football in England.
“With our opening game on the horizon, we Lionesses have decided to pause discussions, with full intentions of revisiting them following the tournament.”
At previous World Cups, bodies such as the FA were given prize money by Fifa and it was up to them to decide how those funds were allocated. However, since Fifa announced a new model to ensure all players would receive a fee, the FA has not followed nations like Australia and the USA in paying players additional bonuses.
Under Fifa’s pay structure, players will receive a minimum of £23,000 if they exit at the group stage, and up to £206,000 per player for the eventual champions.
“We collectively feel a strong sense of responsibility to grow the game,” the Lionesses added.
“And while our focus now switches fully to the tournament ahead, we believe every tackle, pass and goal will contribute to the work we are committed to doing off the pitch.”
As well as some players missing out on bonuses and having their personal sponsorships restricted, the total prize pot for this World Cup has also been criticised.
It stands at $110m (around £57m), compared to $440m (£228m) at the last men’s World Cup in Qatar. Fifa says it is hoping to achieve equality by the next editions of the competition, which will take place in 2026 for men and 2027 for women.
Australia, who are co-hosting the World Cup alongside New Zealand, have been trailblazers when it comes to fair pay for female athletes. The Matildas first went on strike over the issue in 2015 and in 2019 Football Australia confirmed that the women’s national team would operate under a “collective bargaining” agreement, guaranteeing them a minimum percentage of revenue equal to the men’s team.
Earlier this week, all 23 players from the Matildas’ World Cup squad took part in a video calling for greater investment into women’s football, with captain Sam Kerr saying her players were fighting for “recognition, validation and respect”.
Following the Lionesses’ own statement, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) gave them their backing.
“Although the issues the Lionesses have highlighted are specific to the negotiations with the FA, they join players from a number of countries at the World Cup who are prepared to make a stand when they don’t think they are being listened to,” said the PFA’s CEO Maheta Molango.
“It’s a massive mistake to underestimate the genuine strength of player feeling on these issues. It’s no coincidence that this is a particular issue for nations where there is no proper collective bargaining agreement in place between players and governing bodies.
“These longer-term agreements require negotiation and will nearly always involve difficult conversations. But when they are completed, they ensure a far higher degree of stability and security. They mean that everyone knows where they stand, and that’s obviously a massive advantage going into major tournaments when players just want to be focused on the football.
“There will always be consequences when players feel they are having to come back issue by issue to push for parity and progress. It doesn’t need to be like this.”
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