FIFPro: Women’s football faces an ‘almost existential threat’

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According to the global players’ union FIFPro, the COVID-19 outbreak presents women’s football with an “existential threat”.

In a new report labelled, Covid-19: Implications for Professional Women’s Football, the union calls on stakeholders of the game and governing bodies to provide appropriate support for players, clubs and leagues around the world.

“Unless there is a clear commitment to stabilise competitions and provide financial assistance to keep leagues, clubs and players in business, the economic standstill will ultimately result in insolvencies of otherwise profitable and stable clubs across many markets,” FIFPro said.

The report further explains how the current crisis is highlighting the poor conditions women footballers are continually exposed to.

“The lack of written contracts, the short-term duration of employment contracts, the lack of health insurance and medical coverage, and the absence of basic worker protections and worker’s rights leaves many female players — some of whom were already teetering on the margins — at great risk of losing their livelihoods,” it added.

Instability off the pitch is not uncommon for female players in the football industry.

“The majority of players have had experience with previous clubs on the verge of bankruptcy or uncertainty around wages at some point,” it said.

The union wants to focus on measures that support growth and sustainability in its recovery process, but also to use the crisis as an “opportunity to address shortcomings in professional women’s football and establish global labour standards for the working conditions of players.”

FIFPro General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said: “We’re in unprecedented times and we have a responsibility as a global football community to come together and support our industry.

“If clubs, leagues and national team competitions start going out of business, they may be gone forever. Our ultimate goal must be not only to stop this happening but to build a more solid foundation for the future.”

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Female Referee Mentor Program backed by Football Australia

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Image credit: Football Australia

Football Australia (FA) launched the program last week, aiming to champion the next generation of female referees through connections with experienced officials.

Investing in the future

Backed with investment from the Australian Government’s ‘Play Our Way’ grant, FA’s Ref Our Game framework will pair future referees with current and former A-League officials.

Through one-on-one mentorship, development opportunities and a network of experienced professionals, aspiring female referees will have unique insights into match officiating.

“Football Australia has always been a leader in inclusion, setting a global standard for female leadership and development,” said Football Australia CEO, Martin Kugeler, via press release.

“This program reflects a strong commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable officiating pathway and creating a meaningful connections, increasing confidence and ensuring talented female referees feel supported to stay in the game.”

Furthermore, with the launch coinciding with Female Football Week (running from May 8 to May 18), the program represents a wider drive in Australia’s football landscape to become inclusive and supportive.

 

About the program

Focused on future referees within the 18-26 age bracket, the program will give participants a deep understanding of match officiating and equip them with both confidence and expertise.

Each participant will benefit from six mentor sessions, which will include individual feedback, guidance and insights into the life of a referee in elite sport.

Combining leadership, communication and a real sense of belonging, the program promises to nurture new female referees and, as a result, ensure football remains a sport in which men and women can participate side-by-side.

“The Albanese Government’s $200 million Play Our Way program is the most significant commitment ever to women and girls sporting programs and facilities and it’s making a real difference,” explained Minister for Sport, Anika Wells.

“We want to see more girls and women involved in sport at every level and supporting programs like this helps make that happen.”

Indeed, programs of this nature align ambition, professional networks, and a vision for improving the landscape.

This is what the industry needs to ensure long-term inclusivity and cohesion for the next generation.

Football NNSW Releases Infrastructure Strategies as Participation Growth Outpaces Facilities

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Image Credit: Shutterstock

Northern NSW Football has unveiled bespoke infrastructure strategies for each of its seven member zones, providing an evidence-based roadmap for facility investment across the region as continued participation growth exposes critical gaps in the sporting infrastructure available to support it.

The Member Zone Infrastructure Strategies draw on data across participation rates, population growth and existing facility conditions to map what each zone has, what it needs and where investment will have the greatest impact. Identified gaps include drainage, lighting and inclusive changerooms – the foundational infrastructure that determines whether facilities are functional, safe and accessible year-round.

NNSWF Government Relations Manager Gary Fisher said the strategies represented a significant step toward smarter, more targeted investment across the region.

“By bringing together key data on participation, population growth and existing infrastructure, these strategies give us a stronger understanding of where the needs are greatest and where investment will have the most impact,” Fisher said. “Ultimately we want to create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone involved in the game while building stronger, more sustainable clubs and communities for the future.”

Northern NSW Football has previously noted that participation across the region is at record levels and still rising, with women’s and girls’ football a significant driver of that growth. Infrastructure that was built for a smaller and less diverse participation base is increasingly unable to meet current demand, let alone accommodate future growth.

The strategies are also designed to strengthen NNSWF’s alignment with government funding priorities, providing the evidence base needed to support grant applications and long-term facility planning across all seven zones.

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