New report highlights the jeopardy faced by the world’s elite women footballers due to less pay, insufficient medical supervision, and a lack of appropriate training facilities. These findings raise concerns about the well-being and safety of these athletes.
Players’ union Fifpro has raised concerns over the detrimental impact of subpar conditions on international footballers participating in the world’s six continental championships, which, excluding Europe’s, serve as qualifiers for the World Cup.
Inadequate playing and support conditions have been linked to significant effects on players’ health and well-being, with a previous Fifpro study revealing that over one-third of footballers experience depressive symptoms.
While Fifa recently announced improved conditions for its women’s and men’s World Cup tournaments, including equal treatment in areas like travel provisions and accommodation, Fifpro is now advocating for equal conditions in the World Cup qualifying pathways as well. The BBC has reached out to Fifa for comment on the matter.
According to Fifpro, nearly one in three surveyed players reported not receiving payment from their national team for participating in matches.
Additionally, over half of the players stated that they did not undergo a pre-tournament medical examination, raising concerns about the unsupportive environment for players. Sarah Gregorius, Fifpro’s director of strategic relations for women’s football, emphasized the alarming and hazardous nature of these statistics, stressing the importance of all players receiving pre-tournament medicals.
The discrepancy in medical care between men’s and women’s football is attributed to the established infrastructure and professional standards in men’s football. Dr. Culvin highlights the greater need for international-level medical examinations for women players due to the limited number of professional clubs offering such standards.
Also Read: FIFA Women’s World Cup Live Streaming Guide
