Asian Womens Football Federation faces criticism over equal pay dispute

Japan and Australia Renew Calls for Equal Prize Money with Men’s Football Tournament

In a joint statement released by the global footballers’ union FIFPRO, the Japan and Australia women’s national teams have reiterated their calls for equal prize money with the men’s tournament. The statement comes ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where FIFPRO has pledged to honor its commitment to equal prize money.

The two teams, who recently won the Women’s Asian Cup in a 1-0 victory over Australia, have expressed disappointment that their previous requests for equal prize money with the men’s tournament have been ignored by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The AFC has not commented on the matter.

According to FIFPRO, the Women’s Asian Cup generated up to $82.4 million in revenue, with a record 350,000 fans attending the tournament. However, the prize fund for the women’s tournament was reported to be $1.8 million, the same as in 2022, compared to $14.8 million offered at the men’s equivalent.

FIFPRO has stated that equal prize money would be “transformational” for all players and football communities across Asia. The organization also highlighted the challenges faced by teams during the tournament, including issues with kit supply and treatment of players.

In a separate development, Japan has sacked coach Nils Nielsen just 12 days after leading the team to Women’s Asian Cup victory. The decision was made by the Japan Football Association (JFA) board of directors, who cited concerns over Nielsen’s coaching style as “lax” and “lacking passion”.

Source: Al Jazeera