June 12 – Spanish women’s football has received a major boost after the Spanish FA (RFEF) said the top-two tiers have gained professional status.
The news comes as Spanish football resumed on Thursday with the Seville derby after the enforced coronavirus shutdown. Amid projections of huge revenue losses for La Liga, the RFEF, however, revealed that the Spanish sports council has accepted the change in status for the competitions.
The Spanish FA added that that clubs, players and coaches will need to fulfil a series of requirements to participate in the professional competitions, but said that the new status will help to promote the women’s game which previously had an amateur status.
Last February, Spain’s women footballers signed a historic first collective agreement over pay and conditions, after a battle for rights that had led to an unprecedented strike in November.
At the time, the president of the Association for Women in Professional Sports in Spain, Ruben Alcaine indicated that more would need to be done in the future. “The conditions are a little bit crude,” said Alcaine. “But they have put some things on the table.”
The new competition rules will set out budgetary requirements and labour standards.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714021427labto1714021427ofdlr1714021427owedi1714021427sni@o1714021427fni1714021427