2 2017 FIFPRO GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT REPORT Working Conditions in Professional Scorpius 161 Women's Football 2132 LR Hoofddorp Netherlands Tel: +31(0)23-5546970 Fax: +31(0)23-5546971 E-mail: [email protected] fifpro.org 2017 Football 3 Employment Report 1 IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE GIVING BACK TO THE SPORT AND PUSHING WOMEN'S FOOTBALL ALONG TO GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE NEXT GENERATION AFTER US. Alex Morgan, USA Working conditions IN professional women's football 2017 Football 2 Employment Report 2017 3 FOOTBALL EMPLOYMENT REPORT 04 WELCOME 34 Club vs country 36 Discrimination ABOUT FIFPRO 06 CASE STUDY and harassment FIFPro is the worldwide representative organisation 08 INTO THE LIGHTS 40 Who cares? Little support for for all professional footballers; more than 60,000 10 THE DEVELOPMENT female players who players in total, male and female. The world OF THE WOMEN’S want children players’ union has 63 national players’ associations GAME 42 Match-fixing hits the women’s game as its members. Twelve other player associations 12 COUNTRY FOCUS are affiliated to FIFPro. 46 The women’s game 14 TOP FINDINGS can teach us about dual careers To guarantee that the collective voice of players will 16 Denial of be heard, FIFPro has created a measure that allows INSIDE professional status 50 CONCLUSIONS AND female players to become direct members of FIFPro 18 Leaving RECOMMENDATIONS the game early if they cannot join a player union in their country or 20 No pay, low pay, 53 ABOUT THE SURVEY if their national union is not a member of FIFPro. late pay 22 Written contracts all too rare 28 National pride can’t pay the bills 32 Prize money: fair share? WHO GETS COUNTED? FIFPro’s remit is to represent professional football players. However, the elite women’s game is not yet professionalised in many corners of the world, even if women often train and compete under professional regimens and expectations. This survey is aimed at all women competing at the top of the game in their respective countries, whether they are officially recognised as professionals or not. Over 3,600 female footballers1 responded to the survey. These included women playing in a country’s highest national league2 and women playing for their national team3. Female players who earn very little income from their football but have written contracts and can still cover their footballing expenses are ‘professionals’ according to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players4. However, in many places, female players are treated as amateurs despite making 'professional' commitments, meaning that they are not afforded the appropriate benefits and protections. Likewise, many elite female players are not given the appropriate benefits even when they are treated as professionals. 01 A total of 3,295 were analysed once questionnaires with missing key data and geographical outliers were excluded. 02 Female players were also included if they were playing professionally in a second league. 03 National team could be under-17, under-20 or senior team. 04 “A professional is a player who has a written contract with a club and is paid more for his (sic) footballing activity than the expenses he (sic) effectively incurs. All other players are considered to be amateurs”. Working conditions IN professional women's football INSIDE 2017 Football 4 Employment Report 5 The bottom line is that we must pave the way for decent WELCOME and secure jobs for women as THEO VAN SEGGELEN professional footballers. FIFPro Secretary General CAROLINE JÖNSSON Chair, FIFPro Women’s Football Committee FIFPro is proud to present here the first Our aim was to learn as much as possible about a wide Yet, we know that football could be leading the way. In other to ensure female players are given the same rights as other range of issues across the highest women’s leagues through instances, football has been able to take initiatives ahead of workers. We believe this data can be a turning point for global study of working conditions in the eyes of elite female players worldwide. They confided time. It has been able to shape attitudes. women’s football, and a platform for FIFPro to pursue future women’s football. Our national member in FIFPro, and their stories tell of their collective struggle negotiations with football's leading authorities. For us, one of the most reassuring findings from the survey for their rights. Together, they reveal the issues they have unions have helped us survey nearly was the fact that the perceived level of solidarity amongst Today, much of the potential for the future growth of our to deal with on their own: doubts about their status, female players is high. That is to say, the foundation for beautiful game sits in women´s football. But that growth will 3,600 players in Europe, Africa, Asia discrimination, and the daily struggle to make a living out positive change is already here. We all have a responsibility remain potential, and stay unrealised if players are not given of the game. For too long, the term semi-professional has and the Americas. now to support this move for change. their rights and protections. served as an excuse to treat women players in a substandard manner. It has been a reason to give them worse rights than This report comes at a critical moment. It aims to better Let’s make this the start of a new beginning, a turning point other workers. understand the needs of professional female football players, for women’s football, and show how our sport can be a game- and to give space to the voices of a silent majority. changer. This year has been a milestone for the collective Flicking through these pages, you will find the results of voices of women’s football. We have seen women’s teams interviews with some of the players. We will continue Women players know what it means to be treated as sidelined around the world demanding their rights and better working having these discussions through in-depth focus groups. elite footballers. They need to get the structures in place to conditions with the support of players’ unions. After decades The data in this report can serve as a platform for FIFPro support their own rights and the rights of the next generation. of marginalisation, women footballers are now being heard. to pursue change together with football stakeholders. It starts with recognition. And then job security. Players should, like all employees, feel valued and secure in their workplace. The bottom line is that we must pave the way for decent and secure jobs for women as professional They should have adequate rest, be well cared for by medical footballers. This career path for women is only now staff, and expect protection against discrimination from fans, becoming a viable option. The fact that this opportunity clubs and federations. They also need support with childcare has arrived so late is unacceptable. It shows how football and maternity leave so that they are not forced to make THEO VAN SEGGELEN CAROLINE JÖNSSON has fallen far behind other sectors of society when it unfair choices about their careers. The findings contained FIFPro Secretary General Chair, FIFPro Women’s comes to gender equality. in this report confirm that much work still needs to be done Football Committee Working conditions IN professional women's football WELCOME 2017 Football 6 Employment Report 7 AVERAGE AGE AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY OF PLAYERS ARE IS THE AVERAGE BETWEEN 18 AND SALARY OF THE GLOBAL 69% 23 YEARS OLD $600 FEMALE PLAYER 50% OF PLAYERS GET NO PAY ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE WHO DO RECEIVE A SALARY EARN LESS THAN $600 PER MONTH EDUCATION LEVEL DUAL CAREERS OF PLAYERS COMBINE OF PLAYERS HAVE FINISHED THEIR FOOTBALL 84% SCHOOL EDUCATION 46% CAREER WITH STUDY 30% COMBINE THEIR FOOTBALL CAREER WITH ANOTHER JOB 30% HAVE A UNIVERSITY DEGREE CASE STUDY THE AVERAGE GLOBAL PLAYER AVERAGE CONTRACT SHORT CAREERS OF PLAYERS SAY We are proud to present the first ever THEY MIGHT QUIT global study of working conditions in FOOTBALL EARLY women's professional football. These 12 MONTHS 90% findings are a reference point for the IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A PLAYER CONTRACT current state of the game and highlight the realities that professional players face in their daily lives across the REASONS FOR QUITTING EARLY INCLUDE women’s game. STARTING A FAMILY, AND FINANCIAL OR 47% HAVE NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT CAREER REASONS working conditions In professional football case study 2017 Football 9 8 8 Employment Report Why this 9 Football stakeholders must work together to banish stereotypes, modernise governance and free up new resources. report? Only when these issues are addressed Stereotypes and misinformation characterise will women’s football truly flourish. public perceptions of professional female footballers. Female players have long been INTO THE LIGHTS invisible to the wider public. There is little data on Even amongst national teams, many players face substandard their experiences, and there are few references working conditions. Football stakeholders must work together on which to draw. The painful lesson we are Guaranteeing the rights of female to banish stereotypes, modernise governance and free up new learning is that if their stories are hidden, it is resources. Only when these issues are addressed will women’s easier to deny them their rights. players and growing the women’s game football truly flourish. There have only been a few studies about female Women’s football should not be seen as a poor relation of men’s football. To advance the women’s game, football footballers, like the 2014 FIFA Women’s Survey.