Yahoo Finance Thousands chant ‘equal pay’ as soccer pay gap takes centre stage
The USA has taken home the Women’s World Cup and US$4 million (A$5.73 million).
While that seems a major sum, it’s US$34 million less than the prize money awarded to the men’s French team in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
And when it comes to total prize money, the difference is even greater.
The total prize money for the Women’s World Cup is US$30 million, while the men’s World Cup total prize pool for the 2022 tournament will be US$440 million.
It’s a discrepancy not lost on US captain Megan Rapinoe.
After hearing the 50,000-strong crowd chant “equal pay” as the US won the tournament, Rapinoe said it’s time for equal pay to become a reality in professional sport.
“I think everyone is ready for this conversation to move to the next step,” she said.
“I think we’re done with: ‘Are we worth it, should we have equal pay, is the market the same?’ Yada yada.”
“Everyone’s done with that; fans are done with that, players are done with that. In a lot of ways I think sponsors are done with that. Let’s get to the next point. What’s next? How do we support women’s federations and women’s programmes around the world? What can Fifa do to do that? What can we do to support the leagues around the world?”
She said every player in the World Cup “put on the most incredible show” and cannot do anything more to impress sponsors and critics.
“It’s time to take it forward to the next step.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also booed. The FIFA president had previously doubled the women’s prize money, but - as Rapinoe argued - this wasn’t enough.
Agreeing with the booing, Rapinoe said: “A little public shame never hurt anybody, right? I’m down with this.”
Tennis superstart and vocal women’s rights advocate, Billie Jean King also spoke in support of pay equality in football.
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“These athletes have brought more attention, support, & pride to women’s sport than perhaps any other team in history,” King said.
“It is long past time to pay them what they rightly deserve.”
Congratulations to the #USWNT on their 4th World Cup win! These athletes have brought more attention, support, & pride to women’s sport than perhaps any other team in history. It is long past time to pay them what they rightly deserve. 🇺🇸🏆🏆🏆🏆 #USAvNED #WorldCupfinal #EqualPay
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 7, 2019
Closer to home, the Professional Footballers Australia union has launched a campaign for pay equality, warning it will take FIFA to court if it doesn’t increase its payments to female players.
The union argued that with US$2.75 billion in assets, FIFA can afford to up women’s pay.
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