FIFA and FIFPRO have agreed to collaborate to accelerate the development of professional women’s football and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
During a 90-minute video-conference call, FIFPRO shared its recently published Raising Our Game report, which extensively charts recent progress in the women’s game, including the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and makes recommendations to achieve further growth by bolstering the conditions of female players.
Raising Our Game seeks a sustainable path for women players all over the world to benefit from improved standards, allowing them to reach their full potential and play at a competitive level for their club or national team.
As the international representative of professional footballers, FIFPRO is working towards these improvements for women players together with its network of national player unions, and the FIFPRO Global Player Council.
On the call, FIFA discussed the impact of the coronavirus on the women’s game, and how it is working with stakeholders to help provide support to the football industry.
Building on the momentum and unprecedented interest from last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, FIFA is currently investing in a range of programmes to grow and develop the women’s game on and off the pitch.
As part of the USD 1 billion that will be invested by FIFA into women’s football between 2019-2022, these programmes will aim to develop a range of areas in women’s football including competitions, capacity building, governance and leadership, professionalization and technical development.
Recognising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the women’s game, FIFA is also currently working on providing further assistance to women’s football as part of an ongoing assessment taking place into the financial impact of the pandemic on the wider football community.
Both FIFA and FIFPRO agreed to work together to support and strengthen the women’s game during this challenging period and beyond, with ongoing discussions planned to cover many topics including player conditions, competitions and the women’s international match calendar.
Sarai Bareman, FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, said:
“At this difficult time for football and many industries around the world, these discussions with FIFPRO are a positive step towards ensuring that the right support and assistance is available to professional players at all levels of women’s football and to continue ongoing efforts to further grow and develop the women’s game around the world.
“Together with key stakeholders across football, including confederations and member associations, we look forward to continuing discussions with FIFPRO in order to overcome the current challenges women’s football faces.”
Amanda Vandervort, FIFPRO Chief Women’s Football Officer, said:
“We are pleased that we have quickly established a working agenda with FIFA following the publication of Raising Our Game and enthusiastic to keep working on behalf of players and their union representatives to continue improving the women’s game through a global set of labour standards.
“The coronavirus presents new challenges for women’s football, and the players themselves, and the best way to confront these is with a strong and united vision.”
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