Ending Football's Gender Pay Gap

Why it is time for equal pay in the international game to encourage changes within club football and wider society. 

In recent weeks the Brazilian and English football associations have announced their women’s teams will be paid the same amount as their men’s teams, following the precedent set by Norway, Australia and New Zealand. Many applauded this long overdue change which will hopefully encourage other countries to follow. 

The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) brought the problem of equal pay into a greater light during their winning World Cup run in 2019. The tournament coincided with the USWNT court case against US Soccer over gender-based pay discrimination. Chants of equal pay rained down from the stands during their games in a clear show of support to the players against the authorities. However, the Californian federal court sided with the football authority in May 2020.

The pay gap between the US men and the US women’s players is indefensible. On average for every dollar earned by the US male players, the female players earn around 38 cents. Furthermore, the men earn almost double for getting into a World Cup Squad, being paid $68,750 while the women earn $37,500. 

The detractors usually claim that this difference is a result of men generating more money. However, in the case of US football this argument is false. Since the 2015 Women’s world cup, the USWNT has generated more income than the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) until a slight drop in 2018. The records do not account for 2019 where it is easy to envisage the women again generating more given their success in the World Cup.

 

www.forbes.com/sites/ryanlake - From Ryan Lake’s Forbes article which highlights the revenues generated by the USMNT and USWNT 

Furthermore, the USMNT is poor, especially in comparison to their female colleagues, failing to even qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Despite being ranked 27th in the World, the USMNT finished behind countries like Panama and Honduras, who were 49th and 69th respectively when qualifying ended in October 2017. In contrast, the current women’s side are possibly the best women’s football team in history, have led the world rankings for over three years and have won the past two World Cups. It is senseless that they remain underpaid in comparison to the men's team. 

Admittedly, the US case is unique so why should equal pay be extended internationally? For starters, international football provides the greatest opportunity to grow the women’s game, especially through international football tournaments. This is highlighted through the growth in viewership between the 2015 and 2019 World Cup, rising from 52.5 million viewers in the 2015 final to 82 million in the 2019 final. Furthermore, the growth in revenue experienced by the USWNT after their success in 2015 shows just how much interest can be gained from international successes. Female player’s pay should therefore be replicated internationally as a reflection of the interest the international game can generate. 

Unlike club football, the pay within international squads is usually the same throughout. For example, England captain Harry Kane earns the same amount per game (thought to be around £1000), as a lesser squad player like Michael Keane. Given there are no differences within squads why should there be differences with other players playing at the same level? 

Furthermore, as the gender pay gap remains prevalent in society, football associations could be an example in implementing wider societal change. Football’s societal role is great and therefore could genuinely have a large impact in driving positive changes around the world. As seen with players taking the knee in support of Black Lives Matter and drives to stamp out homophobia within the sport, football is good at making symbolic gestures to help raise awareness of issues. Equal pay would go well beyond this. A substantial, meaningful change that could provide a massively positive step forward for equal pay across society. 

Unfortunately due to the vast financial disparities, it does not look possible for equal pay to yet be extended into the club game. Currently, the highest paid women’s footballer in Europe, Ada Hegerberg, earns £343,000 per year. In contrast, the new contract signed this week by Arsenal captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang makes him around the same amount in a week. 

That said, the morality of footballers wages is a debate in itself, especially given the current Covid-induced economic crisis. It is clear that the wealth they generate is obscene but it will not change while the sport continues to be as popular as it is. 

The stark differences in revenue is a result of the vast disparity in the TV deals between men’s and women’s football. While the worldwide value of the Premier League’s TV deals is estimated to be over £9 billion, the rights to the Women’s Super League (WSL) are non monetised with broadcasters BT Sport and the BBC only covering production costs. While this does help to build the profile of the women’s game it does little to help their revenue, especially now given the Coronavirus pandemic teams are unable to sell tickets to games to improve their financial status. In contrast, the value of the TV deal has seen the Premier League weather the Coronavirus storm with relative ease thus far. Until the disparity between the revenue streams between the men’s and women’s game is addressed, the footballers' pay will remain heavily unbalanced. 

However, there is real reason for optimism that this could be a real chance to grow the women’s game in Britain this year. The new WSL season will include some of the top footballing talents from the women’s game all competing in this country. Chelsea have broken the women’s transfer record to sign Danish striker Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg, while Ballon D’or runner up Lucy Bronze has returned to Manchester City from Lyon. Furthermore, due to the impact of Coronavirus in North America, some of the all conquering USWNT will play their club football in the WSL this season. Manchester United have signed forwards Tobin Heath and Christen Press, while Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle have joined Manchester City. Furthermore, Tottenham have managed to seal the signature of Alex Morgan, one of biggest names in the sport until December. It is clear that these names should provide a big boost to the League and help to create a greater level of interest than has ever been seen before, hopefully culminating in a monetised TV deal to increase the League’s revenue. 

Equal pay within the women’s game is something to be promoted and embraced. International football provides the vehicle to grow the women’s game internationally and players should see their wages reflect that of men performing at the same level. The interest the international game provides should help grow all areas of the women’s game, as people flock to see the top international talents performing for their clubs. Alongside this will come valuable TV deals that raise the status and pay of women’s. Equal pay for internationalists is the first, small, easy step in helping to make this a reality. The change may also encourage societal changes towards the gender pay gap which would arguably be the most important contribution of all.