There are huge differences in the prize bonuses of the women’s national teams participating in the European Football Championship.
14:54•Updated 16:00
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The success of the women’s national football team has traditionally been overshadowed by the men’s national team, although the Helmaris are in a class of their own compared to the Huuhkajis, measured only by the number of prestigious competitions played.
While the men failed in their first ever European Championship last summer, the women’s national team is already participating in their fourth European Championship this summer.
Huhkajak netted last summer for participating in the EC tournament EUR 9.25 million (you switch to another service), which was paid by UEFA to each of the 24 countries that participated in the Games. Regarding the women’s EC tournament, the participating countries earn 600,000 euros if the team does not advance to the playoffs.
– It feels bad when it’s the same sport and the same amount of work to be done. We have moved forward, it’s a big and good thing that we are happy about. Hopefully, in another year, we will be equally in the same readings, as it should be, Helmariten Amanda Rantanen commented to Urheilu.
In the fall of 2019, Palloliitto announced that it intends to pay equal compensation to the players of national football teams, regardless of gender. President of the Football Association Ari Lahti confirms to Urheilu that both Huuhkajie and Helmarei players will be reimbursed 30 percent of the amount of prize money paid by UEFA.
As for the hooters, the players were able to share a pot of 2,775,000 euros. The EC team included 26 players, each of whom netted almost 107,000 euros.
The portion of UEFA’s prize money for Helmare players is 180,000 euros. There are 23 players in the Helmareite team, each of whom Earns a good 7,800 euros.
– In Finland, we strive for equality in wages, but in the football world there is still a really big difference between women and men. Hopefully, in our own careers, we can influence the fact that the income gap for the players who come after us would have narrowed, Helmareiden Heidi Kollanen hopes
What accounts for the massive difference?
According to Palloliitto Lahti, the difference between the men’s and women’s prize money tells directly about the commercial value received by the competition organizer UEFA.
– Men’s football is currently purely more valuable in terms of money. Interest in TV rights and other joint ventures is still clearly higher than that of women, says Lahti in an interview with Urheilu.
Although a lot of investment has been made recently, not everything happens in an instant.
– There has been a strong focus on marketing and increasing the value of women’s football in recent years both at UEFA and Fifa (the international football federation). I believe that the gap will narrow in the coming years. But it may take a while before the prize money is as big, Lahti continues.
Lahti says that after the portion refunded to Helmare players, the rest of the money received from UEFA will be spent on the tournament’s costs.
– There are many people working around the race team, participation is not a free pleasure. Unfortunately, there is nothing extra left over from the four-week camps, trips and other expenses, but the players still get their share.
The big difference is also that Huuhkajie’s tournament last summer brought 4 million euros after expenses for the development of Finnish football. However, money is not everything.
– As chairman, I am extremely happy that both men and women play at the top level for us. Young enthusiasts get to see Finnish stars on prestigious competition fields, and that is not measured in money, Lahti points out.
Huge differences between women too
A total of 16 women’s national teams will participate in the European football championships organized in England. For players from different countries, there are huge differences in the competition fluids.
Forbes (you’re moving to another service) according to data, eight-time European champion Germany offers its players the biggest bonuses. If Germany win their record ninth title, each member of the 23-man squad will earn themselves €60,000. The German Football Association announced last month that it would pay most of its earnings to female players who earn them on the pitch.
The practices of Germany and Sweden differ from, for example, the French association, which, like Finland, has offered 30% of its income as bonuses to its players.
It is noteworthy that according to the policy, French players could earn a maximum of 24,000 euros for their first European championship.
It is less than the Swedish players’ participation bonus.
The European Championship starts on Wednesday 6 July. with the England–Austria match. Helmarit will play the opening match of the European Championships against Spain on Friday 8 July. at 7 p.m.
The European Championship matches are shown on channels. Everything about the European Championships on Urheilu’s competition website.