Understanding Why Female Footballers Earn Less than Male Footballers

In recent years, the visibility and appeal of women’s football have expanded rapidly. Millions of people watch major competitions like the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and female athletes are becoming more and more recognised for their skill and hard work. But even with these advancements, there is still a significant salary difference between male and female football players. It is essential to comprehend why Female Footballers Earn Less than Male Footballers in order to promote equality in sports.

Given that professional football leagues for men were founded somewhat earlier than those for women, football has long been perceived as a sport dominated by men. The Women’s Football Association, the first professional women’s league, was established in 1991, whereas the Football League, the first men’s league, was established in England in 1888.

First, we want to be clear about who determines how much is paid to female football players. In an interview with Metro.co.uk, Nicole Saharsky, a partner at Mayer Brown who pushed to get the US Women’s Team a historic wage contract after the 2019 women’s world cup, provided a clear response to this topic.

“FIFA, the international governing body for football, decides how much to pay the teams for qualifying for, advancing in, and winning the Women’s World Cup. 

FIFA pays that money to the country’s federation which acts as the governing body for soccer in that country. In England, it’s the FA that receives the cash.”  she told Metro.co.uk

Following Juventus Women Player Alisha Lehman’s recent comment on the low salaries of female players compared to their male counterparts, there have been many reactions and complaints on social media, and this is to clarify some of the issues that are responsible for this in the round leather game.

Speaking to La Repubblica, the 25-year-old Swiss star said: “I’m not a star, I’m a normal person. I go home, I cook, I do the same thing as everyone else. After training, I often tell Douglas that it’s unfair. We do the same job, but he earns a hundred thousand times more than me.”

Here are 5 major factors responsible:

1. Sponsorship and and Investments

For every sports league to be financially stable, sponsorship agreements are essential. Men’s football clubs tend to obtain greater sponsorship deals due to their established fan bases and increased visibility. While firms are beginning to invest more in women’s football, the partnerships generally fall short of those in men’s leagues. The Spanish team Real Madrid renewed its partnership with Emirates Airlines for another four years in 2022, at an astonishing €70 million each year.

2. Cultural Values 

Although things are different now, in the 1940s the Brazilian Ministry of Health and Education outlawed female athletes in order to safeguard women’s bodies. This restriction lasted until the late 1970s. Establishing a culture that promotes and values female athletes requires changing public perceptions of women in sports and introducing them to the sport at a young age.

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3. Match Attendance and Fans Support

Attendance at matches is another important component. Less than 10,000 people watched a Premier League game the last time it was played, on New Year’s Eve 2022, when Bournemouth lost 2-0 at home against Crystal Palace. According to footballwebpages.co.uk, the women’s football league (WSL) had an average attendance of 7,380 for the 2023–2024 season.

More people attend men’s football games, which increases revenue and ticket sales. Although women’s football attendance has experienced a growth, however it still lags behind. Closing this gap can be facilitated by increased fan involvement and attendance at women’s games, but it will take consistent work from leagues, teams, and supporters.

4. Media Coverage and Publicity

Public opinion and interest are greatly influenced by media coverage. Examining the viewership figures for football matches between men and women reveals a significant difference in audience participation. The majority of media coverage and television rights go to men’s football, which in turn attracts sponsorship and advertising money. Despite its growing popularity, women’s football does not have the same amount of exposure.  Lower media exposure means fewer viewers, which can lead to reduced revenue for women’s leagues and teams.

https://youtu.be/GG6tqan_o7U?si=14kLY4gzqLyHk9tk

5. Infrastructure and Defined System

Compared to men’s football, women’s football frequently lacks the same level of infrastructure in the majority of countries, including coaching, training facilities, and development initiatives. Although there are still certain infrastructure gaps in men’s football, particularly in Africa, many women’s teams worldwide operate with much fewer budgets, which has an effect on player pay, available resources, and general support. The expansion and long-term viability of women’s football depend on infrastructure investment.

Female football players receive a lower salary than male football players for these and numerous other factors that are too numerous to list here. Even though women’s football has grown quickly in recent years, getting to the level of men’s football in all wise is not going to be an overnight achievement.

Sources: Goal.com / Metro.co.uk / Evoluted.net / Footballwebpages.co.uk 

By Francis Blessing