September 1 – Ireland’s Football Association (FAI) has introduced equal pay for the men’s and women’s senior national teams who will receive the same match fees and bonuses on international duty.
The association said in a statement that the “historic” agreement would take “immediate effect” for September’s international games. The ruling body confirmed that the men’s side had agreed to a reduction in their international fees, allowing a rise in fees paid to the women’s team. Qualifying bonuses for football tournaments will also be paid equally.
“The Irish Football Association is proud to announce that players representing the Republic of Ireland’s senior men’s and women’s teams will receive the same match fees in international matches,” said the FAI a statement.
“We have taken a huge step forward with this deal and have shown the world what can be achieved through unity as we offer male and female international players the same opportunities.”
The new payment structure was brokered by FAI CEO Jonathan Hill and Ciaran Medlar, advisor to the male and female international players, alongside captains Katie McCabe and Seamus Coleman.
”We are delighted as players to do what we can to ensure that our female international players are treated equally and fairly and we remain fully committed to doing whatever we can to achieve that goal together,” said Ireland men’s captain Coleman.
In the past, the Irish women’s team has accused the FAI of treating them as “fifth class citizens”, describing how they had to change out of tracksuits in airport toilets. The calls for equality had been growing ever since and with the move Ireland follows in the footsteps of Norway, the Netherlands and a number of other trailblazing countries.
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