April 21 – FIFA has said that the coronavirus pandemic will not touch the world federation’s ambitious plans to invest $1 billion in the women’s game.
Last week, world players’ union FIFPro warned against the lasting damage football’s shutdown will have on the ecosystem of the women’s game, arguing that the current crisis is an “existential threat” to the sport. In an email to Insideworldfootball, FIFA, however, said that it will deliver on its promise of pumping $1 billion into the women’s football.
“We can confirm that this funding has already been committed by FIFA and will not be impacted by the current Covid-19 crisis,” said a FIFA spokesperson. “This funding will be invested into a range of areas in the women’s game including competitions, capacity building, development programmes, governance and leadership, professionalisation and technical programmes.”
At the 2019 FIFA Congress, football supremo Gianni Infantino earmarked $500 million for the women’s game in the 2019-2022 cycle, responding to criticism over the minimal prize money on offer at the Women’s World Cup in France. Gradually, he raised the stakes and promised to invest $1 billion.
In its report, FIFPro said that the women’s game will need specific measures to combat the crisis because professional league are less established, salaries are lower and sponsorship deals smaller. If not, the game could stall.
FIFA said that the women’s game is included in its plans to provide the global game with assistance to tackle the impending financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We can also confirm that FIFA is also currently working on possibilities to provide assistance to the football community around the world, including women’s football, after making a comprehensive assessment of the financial impact this pandemic will have on football,” said a FIFA spokesperson. “Women’s football is being fully considered as part of this process in order to understand the various needs and impact on stakeholders within the women’s game.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713875065labto1713875065ofdlr1713875065owedi1713875065sni@o1713875065fni1713875065