England Women and the Football Association (FA) are reportedly facing another dispute over player bonuses ahead of this year’s Euros.
According to The Guardian, players are reportedly disappointed with the FA’s proposed bonus payments for winning this summer’s tournament.
Negotiations are ongoing, with senior players, including England captain Leah Williamson, leading the discussions, supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
The publication believes that the Lionesses are looking for an increase on the £55,000 bonus per player they received for lifting the Euros 2022 trophy, with this summer shaping up for a potential defence.
However, the players’ demand for higher bonuses isn’t solely about a second consecutive win. UEFA has boosted its prize money for this year’s tournament to £34m, representing an increase of more than double the amount from the previous one.
Furthermore, England players argue that other countries are set to receive larger bonuses, with Spain’s players reportedly receiving around £250,000 each for winning the last World Cup, along with a similar deal for this upcoming competition.
The FA has previously been involved in heated negotiations with the England Women’s team over player bonuses, with the Lionesses eventually getting their way.
At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the FA initially refused to offer performance- payments after FIFA introduced individual player fees. These discussions continued right up to the tournament, with players releasing a statement expressing their disappointment ahead of the opening match.
Despite the tension, the bonus issue didn’t prove too distracting, as England made it to the final before losing 1-0 to Spain. However, a month after the tournament, the FA agreed to pay bonuses to the players.
The FA’s handling of the situation attracted significant media attention, with many stakeholders criticising the governing body.
England players emphasised that these bonuses are vital for the growth of women’s football, which has seen exponential growth in attendances and sponsorship activity since the last Euros.
While there’s still a long way to go before the women’s game matches the men’s in terms of financial backing, the FA is in a position to lead the charge for equality, as it did in 2020 by equalising match fees for male and female national team players.
However, this equality doesn’t extend to bonuses. For example, the men’s team had the potential to share a £14m bonus if they had won last year’s Euros final against Spain – a significant sum, but less life-changing given the average wage of the team.
Insider Sport has contacted the FA for comment.
