Show us the money: global union’s call for Asian Cup
Anna Harrington |
Football’s global players’ union has called for the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup to become the first major tournament to offer prize money equal to its men’s equivalent.
Next year’s tournament in Australia is expected to be the most high-profile edition yet, especially off the back of the blockbuster 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The Asian Football Confederation is yet to release details regarding proposed prize money for the tournament starting on March 1.
In the 2022 edition in India, winners China were entitled to $US1 million ($A1.6 million), with runners-up South Korea claiming $US500,000 ($A800,000) and semi-finalists winning $US150,000 ($A234,000) while there was no participation bonus.
The men’s tournament in Doha in 2023 had a $US5 million ($A7.78 million) prize for winners Qatar, with runners-up Jordan earning $US3 million ($A4.67 million).
Semi-finalists received $US1 million ($A1.6 million) and a general participation bonus of $US200,000 ($A320,000).
Had the Matildas won the 2022 tournament, they would have received around $26,000 per player, compared to their Socceroos counterparts being eligible for close to $134,000.
Under their agreement with Football Australia, national team players receive 40 per cent of prize money if they are champions, and 33 per cent for anything less than that.
Global players’ union FIFPro in May submitted a proposal to the AFC calling for the women’s tournament to be allocated equal prize money to the men’s equivalent.
That would include a guarantee that a minimum of 30 per cent of the pool is paid directly to participating players.
The union also called for equal and identical regulations and conditions in the two Asian Cup competitions, plus shared legacy initiatives to support the ongoing development of women’s football in Asia and Oceania.
Beau Busch, the president of FIFPRO Asia/Oceania and the chief executive of Professional Footballers Australia, urged the AFC to step up.
“The 2026 AFC Asian Women’s Cup represents a generational moment for change that can usher in a new era for the development of football across the region,” Busch said in a statement to AAP.
“Through demonstrating their commitment to gender equality and fairness, the AFC can establish a partnership with the players that transforms the women’s game.
“The pursuit of gender equality is not just necessary, but inspiring for the member associations throughout Asia and, more broadly, the world.
“A continuation of practices from previous editions of the AFC Asian Women’s Cup would defeat the potential of the tournament and would be unacceptable to the players.”
Improving the prize money would also get the Asian Cup pot closer to other confederations.
England took home a whopping 5.3 million euros ($A9.58 million) for winning this year’s Women’s Euros, with runners-up Spain claiming $US7.05 million.
Former Matilda Sarah Walsh, the chief operating officer of the Local Organising Committee, was adamant conditions would stack up.
“Prize money is determined by the Asian Football Confederation and has not yet been confirmed for next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup,” Walsh said in a statement to AAP.
“What we can confirm, however, are the outstanding conditions players will have at next year’s event that will set a new benchmark for this tournament.
“Having played in the 2006 and 2010 editions myself, I’ve seen first-hand how far we’ve come.
“Next year’s tournament will deliver the best conditions of any AFC Women’s Asian Cup in history – from world-class stadiums, elite training facilities, high-quality accommodation and seamless transport.
“Every detail has been designed to give players the platform to perform at their very best.
“Parity across the game is a key goal and creating these professional standards off the pitch is an important step.
“These conditions will ensure the football on the pitch reaches new heights, delivering a tournament that truly reflects the progress of the women’s game across Asia.”
AAP
