The England Women’s team and the Football Association (FA) have failed to reach a resolution regarding their dispute over bonuses ahead of the World Cup. The team has been seeking improved bonuses for reaching the latter stages of international competitions, as they are currently paid the same flat match rate of £2,000 by the FA as the men’s side outside of tournament football.
Discussions between the Lionesses and the FA have been ongoing since before last summer’s European Championship, which the team subsequently won. However, despite FIFA’s announcement last month that players at the World Cup will receive individual performance-related payments ranging from $30,000 per player for group-stage participation up to $270,000 for the winners, the FA has maintained its position that it will not pay the England team any performance-related bonuses at the tournament.
This decision by the FA has caused disappointment among the England players, who feel that the FA should be benchmarking against other leading nations and hope for parity with countries they expect to face in the latter stages of the tournament. Other nations, including the world champions, the USWNT, will receive performance-related bonuses from their federations on top of the FIFA payments.
The England squad, led by captain Millie Bright, released a statement expressing their disappointment at the lack of resolution. They emphasized the importance of finding a solution through player input and a transparent long-term plan for the growth of women’s football in England. However, with their opening game approaching, they have decided to pause discussions and focus on the tournament. They believe that every tackle, pass, and goal will contribute to their commitment to growing the game off the pitch.
It is worth noting that England is not the only nation at the World Cup facing a similar dispute with their federation. The Canada team has been critical of Canada Soccer due to budget cuts and a controversy over equal pay and bonuses. Nigeria’s team is also engaged in a dispute over bonuses, and their head coach has been involved in a public spat with the federation.
The UK Professional Footballers’ Association chair, Maheta Molango, commented on the situation, stating that players from various countries at the World Cup are prepared to make a stand when they feel their voices are not being heard. The PFA believes that player rights and conditions should be addressed proactively and viewed as a partnership, rather than requiring players to push for parity and progress issue by issue.
The Australia team has also criticized the gender disparity in FIFA’s World Cup prize money. They highlighted the 1:4 ratio of prize money between the women’s and men’s World Cups. Additionally, several competing nations do not yet have collective bargaining rights, further exacerbating the issue.
Despite the ongoing dispute, England’s tournament is set to begin on Saturday against Haiti. The team will be focused on their performance on the pitch, aiming to make a strong impact in the tournament.
In conclusion, the England Women’s team and the FA have been unable to reach a resolution regarding bonuses before the World Cup. The players are disappointed and believe that finding a solution is crucial for the growth of women’s football in England. Similar disputes exist among other nations at the tournament, highlighting the need for proactive measures to address player rights and conditions. Despite the ongoing disagreement, the England team remains focused on their upcoming matches and aims to contribute to the growth of the game both on and off the pitch.