The Lionesses have paused their bonus discussions ahead of the Women’s World Cup - here's why
The squad have shared their disappointment over the lack of agreement.
With the Women's World Cup just a mere two days away, the England Women's team has announced they have decided to pause conversations with the FA over performance-related bonuses.
They've been at the centre of a bonus row for months now and, in a statement shared by the Lionesses' current Captain, Millie Bright, on social media, have now expressed their "disappointment" that no resolution had been achieved pre the tournament.
In the statement signed by each of the 25 England players currently in Brisbane, they wrote: "Last year, we presented the FA with concerns relating to our bonus and commercial structures. The hope was that discussions would lead to a solution before the commencement of the World Cup."
"We view the successful conclusion of these discussions, through player input and a transparent long-term plan, as key for the growth of women's football in England."
Continuing to reflect how no such conclusion has yet been met, they shared they would be pausing negotiations until after the World Cup - "with full intentions of revisiting them following the tournament."
Why England players have paused bonus discussions ahead of the World Cup
The team have been joined by Canada and Nigeria, who are holding similar discussions with their own national associations.
So far, the FA have failed to agree on a clear bonus structure ahead of the tournament - something the Lionesses have petitioned hard for.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
This year, the Women's World Cup will offer athletes from every competing nation bonuses for their performance. This marks a world first from organisers Fifa and will see athletes paid anything from £23,0000 to £206,000, depending on how far they get.
While this is a big increase from previous years - the total amount totals £84 million compared to £23 million for the 2019 World Cup - it's still a far cry from what the men get paid (their total prize pot was £337.55 million for last year's iteration of the tournament).
A post shared by Millie Bright (@mbrighty04)
A photo posted by on
Speaking exclusively to Marie Claire UK for our Women in Sport special earlier this month, both Mille and Mary - the Captain and Vice-Captain - were keen to point out that the men's and women's games are totally different sports. They're not demanding equal pay to men - rather, they "just want to be compensated fairly," shares Earps.
Bright maintained that while there are good wages out there for female footballers, it’s about making sure every female footballer is offered that. “It's making sure that the lower clubs are able to financially provide for their players and offer adequate facilities,” she asserts. “It's more than just money. The whole system needs to be at the same rate - the bottom of the league needs to operate in the same way as the top of the league.”
With some players also missing out on bonuses and having restrictions on which personal sponsorships they're allowed to accept, the overall prize earnings have also been criticised.
Following the Lionesses’ statement, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has responded in support of the athletes.
“Although the issues the Lionesses have highlighted are specific to the negotiations with the FA, they join players from a number of countries at the World Cup who are prepared to make a stand when they don’t think they are being listened to,” said the PFA’s CEO Maheta Molango.
“It’s a massive mistake to underestimate the genuine strength of player feeling on these issues. It’s no coincidence that this is a particular issue for nations where there is no proper collective bargaining agreement in place between players and governing bodies."
“These longer-term agreements require negotiation and will nearly always involve difficult conversations. But when they are completed, they ensure a far higher degree of stability and security. They mean that everyone knows where they stand, and that’s obviously a massive advantage going into major tournaments when players just want to be focused on the football."
“There will always be consequences when players feel they are having to come back issue by issue to push for parity and progress. It doesn’t need to be like this.”
Here's hoping that the FA resolves the discussion straight after the World Cup has finished.
Sofia Piza is the Fashion Writer at Marie Claire UK.
Sofia Piza is a Fashion Writer with experience working across runway trends, shopping picks, creative production, and celebrity fashion news. Born in Mexico and raised in five countries, Sofia decided to settle in London after spending four years at the London College of Fashion, studying Fashion Journalism. When she's not sourcing inspiration from social media, you will most certainly find Sofia anywhere from a local vintage market to busy central London streets people watching - the possibilities are endless.
-
LOOKFANTASTIC’s The Box is the best beauty edit I’ve seen for a while - here’s what’s in the April Edit
Iconic beauty buys for a fraction of the price? Yes please
By Valeza Bakolli
-
Strength training at home without equipment promises to boost muscle and tone in no time - 7 workouts to try
No equipment? No problem.
By Anna Bartter
-
Is this pink dress the must-have style of Spring/Summer 2024?
The balletcore dress of dreams
By Jazzria Harris
-
As a seasoned runner, I can’t even begin to tell you everything that’s wrong with the Nike US Olympic kit
Once again, women are being set up for failure in sport. Here’s where it all went wrong
By Ally Head
-
I'm an ultramarathoner - here's why Jasmin Paris becoming the first female to ever finish the Barkley Marathon needs to be on your radar
History-making and record-breaking.
By Ally Head
-
Yes, 40% of Formula 1 fans are female—here's how the famously exclusive sport is finally embracing the F1 fangirl
As a world-first F1 sponsorship is announced, we meet the women changing the sport and inspiring a nation of fangirls.
By Fern Buckley
-
Rachel Daly: "If you've got a dream and you work at it every single day, good things will happen."
By Ally Head
-
As Mary Earps becomes the first ever goalkeeper to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 6 surprising fun facts you didn't know about her
The former MC UK Guest Editor is a jack of all trades.
By Lauren Hughes
-
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of BBC Sports Personality of the Year: Dame Mary Peters and Paula Radcliffe share their top tips for improving your fitness
Health contributor Abbi Henderson chats with the two former athletes.
By Abbi Henderson
-
15 things you didn't know about Millie Bright and Mary Earps, England Captain and Vice-Captain
Meet our Guest Editors and the athletes hoping to lead the England football squad to victory this Sunday.
By Ally Head
-
This is what you should be eating before working out for energy and gains, according to a top nutritionist
Plus, how the England squad are fuelling their success this World Cup.
By Ally Head